Carburetor system- 3.2: Aircraft systems in flight

    Among the many systems on an aircraft to offer it the ability to fly there is the carburetor system. Mainly used on smaller aircraft the carburetor is an integral peace of the whole fuel system (aircraft systems 05, 2016.YouTube). The carburetor is a mechanism used in many small engine vehicles. When it comes to an aircraft equipped with a carburetor a major downfall can happen. As picture depicts, Carbs are prone to icing when there is a mixture of cool temperature and humidity (PHAK 7-8). Icing can actually happen in decently high temperatures. If the aircraft in use is driven solely by a carburetor mixing the fuel and oxygen and icing occurs tragedy can happen. It can cause misfires all the way up to starving the engine of fuel thus resulting in engine failure. 

    The main two mitigation factors to use are 1. Using exhaust heat to keep the carb warm and 2. Simply upgrade to fuel injection systems (PHAK 7-8). When it comes to keeping the carburetor warm  using the exhaust gas is the common practice. Another way to heat the carb could be to design a carburetor that has hollow walls for warm fluid to flow through. For example the warm oil that runs from the engine before it gets to the oil cooler could be a way to keep the temperature up for the carburetor. The same concept is used in modern automobiles with coolant and the engine. This would keep the weight down and just reroute the oil lines. In my personal experience with UAV’s the exhaust gas can sometimes go cold and might not be a stable heating source when doing a rapid descent. So having a more stable way of heating the carburetor can lead to a more secure flight in most humidities and temperatures. 

            

                                                                        References

PHAK. (n.d.-a). Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge  chapter 7. Aircraft systems.

Aircraft systems-05- Fuel system.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rya4YFDpsPs&list=PLzW-Ub1FWeZzdOHQhNK0U0Ci1a-VRH8IO&index=37