Ferraripilot wrote:Is it better to generate downforce as low to the ground as possible meaning it's more beneficial to make the beam wing and diffuser more efficient than the main top wing element? I'm trying to figure out why Merc would potentially go for a oddball intake arrangement.
well the way I'm seeing it is that
1) you could generate higher inlet velocity to produce more engine power. May not be much by 5% of 500Kw is significant.
2) you increase the volume of air reaching the beam wing way by reducing the volume of obstruction ahead of it. Lower air box that functions as a flow conditioner through the airfoil shaped air inlet.
3) through the inlet tract also acting as a wing there is potential to direct flow downward which increases airflow through the rear wing and thus the beam wing.
Clearly needs refining but its an idea of how I see a possible implementation of dual unconventional intakes as described in the German press