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RE: Dry sump

To: land-speed@autox.team.net
Subject: RE: Dry sump
From: "Albaugh, Neil" <albaugh_neil@ti.com>
Date: Mon, 27 Jan 2003 11:02:07 -0600
Mayf;

Any minute now someone is going to suggest driving a supercharger with an
electric motor......Not a good idea! Unfortunately, neither is an electric
water pump or an electric oil pump. All for pretty much the same reasons.

Every electric motor-driven water pump that I've ever seen comes with very
specific instructions that it is not meant for continuous use on the street
or on the track. For drag racing applications where the entire race is over
in 10 seconds or so, the electric pump is practical-- it circulates coolant
through the engine, preventing or minimizing hot spots and helps the engine
assume a uniform operating temperature. The pump's electric motor is not
capable of circulating coolant at a rate that is needed for full engine
output power for longer duration.

Of course, it would be possible to add a bigger "intermittent duty" DC motor
and get more water pump pressure and flow but the electrical power required
to drive the pump will drain the battery in a fairly short order unless an
alternator charging system is used or a battery the size of one in an
electric forklift is used (talk about ballast!).

Powerful, small, lightweight "intermittent duty" motors are available but
they are very expensive. The additional horsepower gained by switching to an
electric water pump is going to come at a very high $ cost.

I'd simply use a belt-driven Stewart, Edelbrock, or other good quality water
pump and put my $$ elsewhere where they will do more good. Just my personal
opinion.

Regards, Neil     Tucson, AZ

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