Energy flow of a 2018 FIA F1 racing car and proposed changes to the powertrain rules

Albert Boretti

doi:10.1515/nleng-2018-0171

Abstract

AbstractIn the last few years, the different teams have dramatically improved the directly injected, electrically assisted turbocharged, internal combustion engine of FIA F1 hybrid electric cars. With limited fuel flow rate, but unlimited boost, the engine is now delivering peak power at fuel conversion efficiencies about 45% running lean stratified with the help of some sort of jet ignition. The paper analyses the energy flow of a FIA F1 hybrid electric car covering one lap of the Monte Carlo race track of length 3.370 km. The amount of energy recovered is minimal, at the most 2 of the 9.77 MJ of braking energy, or 20.6%. The fuel consumption per lap, 1.16 kg of fuel, or 50.34 MJ of fuel energy, needed to deliver the 16.28-18.28 MJ of propulsive energy, at an outstanding average efficiency of 32 to 36%, may still be dramatically reduced. New rules are thus proposed to promote the development of technical features that could be beneficial to passenger car applications, from advanced turbo-compounding, to enhanced thermal and mechanical energy recovery, and better hybridization.

Highlights

Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) F1 racing is characterized by restrictive rules, with limited freedom to develop the different components of the power unit
New rules are proposed to promote the development of technical features that could be beneficial to passenger car applications, from advanced turbo-compounding, to enhanced thermal and mechanical energy recovery, and better hybridization
There is a clear need to develop new rules to promote the development of technical features that could be beneficial to passenger car applications, from advanced turbocompounding, to enhanced energy recovery

Summary

Introduction

FIA F1 racing is characterized by restrictive rules, with limited freedom to develop the different components of the power unit. In the last few years, the different teams have dramatically improved the directly injected, electrically assisted turbocharged, ICE, of limited fuel flow rate but unlimited boost, delivering peak power at fuel conversion efficiencies about 45% running lean stratified with the help of some sort of jet ignition. The energy flow of a F1 car covering a lap of Monte Carlo is analyzed in detail It is shown as the amount of energy recovery is minimal, and dramatic improvements are still possible to reduce the fuel consumption per lap. The aim of the present work is to present, with the support of measurements and computations, the state-of-theart of energy efficiency in FIA F1 racing, and to discuss the further evolution of the rules to make F1 more technically challenging for the benefit of production cars. Albert Boretti, Energy flow of a 2018 FIA F1 racing car and proposed changes to the powertrain rules

Past of FIA F1

Present of FIA F1

Energy flow during one lap in Monte Carlo

The Future of FIA F1

Findings

Conclusion