Porsche Unlocking 10k RPM on GT3 RS

Porsche: Blending F1 & Coil Springs’ Benefits.

CarBuzz has stumbled upon a remarkable technological breakthrough manufactured by Porsche. Unveiled at the German Patent and Register Office, it details a system which synchronizes the advantages of both classic valve springs and air valves, eliminating any of the disadvantages related to each.

The upside of it is that this tech can increase the performance of vigorous engines and permit the Porsche 911 GT3 RS to outsmart its present 9,000 rpm limit, conceivably soaring up to a mesmerizing 10,000 rpm or even further.

To comprehend the functionality of this fresh design, we should first examine each of these techniques on their own.

It is common knowledge how traditional valve springs operate; as the valve opens, it compresses and when forced shut, decompresses. Even though this procedure is dependable, they can’t be easily monitored at high RPM’s, contributing to something termed “valve float”.

Pneumatic valves facilitate far more exact, high-speed regulation, substituting springs with lightweight, pressurized air bladders. The benefit to this is that the ECU can more rapidly retract valves which are dependent upon pressure than those depending upon a compressed metal. Compressed springs take more duration to decompress than it would simply to reduce the air pressure being fed into the valvetrain. At pinnacle rpm, if the valve does not have sufficient speed in its retraction, there will occur valve float (an interval between the cam lobe and the valve) and then the valve has a greater chance of striking the piston.

Despite their regular appurtenances to motorsport, why are pneumatic valves not commonly utilized within vehicle engines manufactured for the roads? Surely, such a mechanism would be excellent for on-road automotive use; yet, it appears that its introduction has not taken hold of the everyday vehicular world.

The concise response is that they can only send noticeable benefits when spinning rapidly. They tend to be pricier and elaborate, and recurrently endure from leakage. In addition, compressed air must be replenished routinely; barring an integral compressor, one would need to refill the setup on most occasions (normally after every competition).

Renault has given it their most courageous effort, and Koenigsegg have simulated them by developing Freevalve; utilizing pneumatically controlled actuators that excludes camshafts, yet however, this is still incredibly convoluted.

Porsche fans are aware of how the automaker has experimented with pneumatically operated valves previously. In the celebrated Porsche Carrera GT, a V10 power plant utilised regular springs but its blueprint based on an F1 engine featured a capability to rev up to 20,000rpm. During that period, pneumatic springs were frequent components incorporated in Formula One engines. Nevertheless, because the engine for road use didn’t require such a high-level of speed, this innovation wasn’t installed.

Porsche’s plan is far from straightforward, yet still appears to be a fantastic approach to enhancing efficiency. The plan capitalizes on making use of pneumatic valves, however seeks to raise the pressure in them via the assistance of a spring and reinforced air. To accomplish this, an access passage would direct augmented air into a spring located in the particular pneumatic valve chamber, with the intention that the spring can sustain optimal external pneumatic valve pressure.

By bolstering the force of the pneumatic valve, this system would result in an improved response and capability. A consistently sealed environment would help ensure a full cam rotation angle with more than just the combustion cycle’s explosive power. Ultimately, this would create a tighter system which burns fuel and air more efficiently.

Porsche has alluded to the possibility of using the new flat-eight engine in “high-revving series or racing engine” applications, suggesting that Zuffenhausen might be considering its use in motorsport and limited-series high-performance supercars such as the 911 GT3 RS. It remains to be seen if Porsche will actually go ahead with this plan.