Laminar flow: Unintended consequences?

[Paul Workman]

Air has mass, and therefore subject to Newton's laws of motion. We've had lots of discussions about porting and the shaping of ports to smooth the flow, and avoiding edges resulting in reversion, etc. SO, with that in mind, this intake duct design (the shape!!) has always bugged me a bit.

As the air entering at the far right and left move toward the duct, the direction is vectored so the flow opposes. IF that isn't bad enough, it then has to make a right angle turn. The result has to be some compression (read: increased pressure) as well as turbulance as air tries to jam itself into the duct. Want more? the inlet to the air duct is essentially a hole cut in a perpendicular surface. It might be another area that could at least be improved with a "belled" inlet area, at least. No?



An "S" shape is what we see in aircraft engine inlet ducts, for example, AND the stock ZR-1 duct too, for that matter.



So, in spite of how "purdy" this duct is, I have to wonder if the shape of the box leading into the air duct is counter productive. That's not to say that in spite of it's perceived short-commings that it doesn't flow better than stock, or even a K&N. But, could it be better if the shape were different???

Oh, and ya want another shape that you won't see on a jet engine's inlet surfaces? You ain't gonna see no accordion-shaped ducting leading into the compressor neither!! (Oh, and you can see a bit of the "S" of the stock filter air box leading into the duct...)



I don't know what (if any) additional hp might be realized by using a more "S" shapped funnel (read: venturi) trasition from the filter air box to the air duct, OR what increase might be afforded by smoothing the accordion duct, but I'm sure Sir Issac Newton would not dissapprove! ... Just a thought!! Any JPL scientists in the house??

Jeeeessst stirrin' the pot.

P.