At IRP this year (event rained out ) there was a modified-class sledpuller with no intercooler; instead he had what I would assume to be water injection plumbed into the head.

He had two lines attached to nozzles in the boost neck, and then he had four more threaded into the head.

I never say anything like it. It was a Massachusetts Diesel truck, the one with the fiberglass body that lifted up funny-car style. Wondered if anybody could enlighten me on how you can thread water nozzles directly into the head?

 

What passes for an intake manifold on a Cummins is cast into the head.

 

So you just drill into the head at the right place and tap it, eh???
I guess that it works good until you drill through a valve stem...

I take it that you've seen them installed that way before? What's the advantage of putting them there instead of in the intake horn?

 

There's an aluminum plate there that they tap into. Typically the big pullers run 8-13 nozzles into the intake tract to keep EGT in check. I've heard goals of "keeping it under 2200F this year". That's how they do it.

brandon.

 

Well, I've got that in the bag!

 

anyone have any pics of this? I am not really understanding how this works

 

Just like the exhaust manifold theres a intake manifold. They're not putting it in the cylinder through the head just in the manifold so there are no valves in the manifold to hit. If they could actually inject water into the cylinder just after the ignition of the diesel the steam expansion of water is probably to powerfull and would break things. Maybe in very very small amounts they could get away with it.

 

I read that in the big boy tractor classes, such as super stock, they use water injection aside from cooling to add power. They spray in so much water to keep the egts in check that they get quite a bump in power from the steam of all that water.
They can contain all this pressure since they use custom billet heads and internals. The quote I saw was "....taking 225hp motors and making over 2,500hp." That's an extreme bump even by the standards set by some members here.

 

Thats nothing new, the pullers have been doing it for years. If you can find a picture of Scheid's rail (motor exposed), its all there.

 

Steam expansion is way more powerfull than fuel alone. Injecting water through the head after tdc is going to be lots of power. Containment is the problem. If you can contain it your hp is going to be out of sight. I wouldn't be supprised if you took a stock fueled motor other than the water ijection and stronger parts to contain the steam pressure and make 1500hp or more. You don't need more fuel to make the water change to steam. Fuel economy would be awsome too if you could adjust the water injection properly. Also keeping water out of the oil would help. Maybe a water oil seperator? Could the rings keep the steam from getting past?

 

OK, its making sense now. thanks

 

just search for a picture of one of our cummins heads. Most pics I have ever seen were bare. Youwill be able to see the intake they are talking about then.

 

not sure if this pic helps

click pic for larger view

 

If you inject a water mist and put the flame out, you will not be able to run the engine. You simply cannot run the engine on steam. On the Cummins 5.9l's, any water under ~8psi is detrimental to engine health. The water misters are typically up to .625 ml/s, after that they use multiple misters. Do a search for snow performance boost coolers, there's plenty of people around here who have experimented with water inejction.

brnaodn.

 

Yes you have to have some thing to make heat to make the water turn into steam. Yes you fire the diesel as it burns out you inject water and use the heat to turn water to steam in the power stroke. Probably would reduce emissions below the 2010 levels also.