Aircraft carburetors use several interconnected systems to provide the correct air-fuel mixture under all operating conditions. These systems work together to supply fuel during starting, idling, acceleration, cruising, and high-power operation.
To provide for engine operation under various loads and at different engine speeds, each carburetor has six systems:
- Main metering,
- Idling,
- Accelerating,
- Mixture control,
- Idle cutoff, and
- Power enrichment or economizer.
Each of these systems has a definite function. It may act alone or with one or more of the others.
The Main Metering System
The main metering system supplies fuel to the engine at all speeds above idling. The fuel discharged by this system is determined by the drop in pressure in the venturi throat.
The Idling System
A separate system is necessary for idling because the main metering system can be erratic at very low engine speeds. At low speeds the throttle is nearly closed. As a result, the velocity of the air through the venturi is low and there is little drop in pressure.
Consequently, the differential pressure is not sufficient to operate the main metering system, and no fuel is discharged from this system. Therefore, most carburetors have an idling system to supply fuel to the engine at low engine speeds.
The Accelerating System
The accelerating system supplies extra fuel during sudden increases in engine power. When the throttle is opened, the airflow through the carburetor increases to obtain more power from the engine. The main metering system then increases the fuel discharge.
During sudden acceleration, however, the increase in airflow is so rapid that there is a slight time lag before the increase in fuel discharge is sufficient to provide the correct mixture ratio with the new airflow. By supplying extra fuel during this period, the accelerating system prevents a temporary leaning out of the mixture and gives smooth acceleration.
The Mixture Control System
The mixture control system determines the ratio of fuel to air in the mixture. By means of a flight deck control, the manual mixture control can select the mixture ratio to suit operating conditions.
In addition to these manual controls, many carburetors have automatic mixture controls so that the air-fuel ratio, once it is selected, does not change with variations in air density. This is necessary because as the airplane climbs and the atmospheric pressure decreases, there is a corresponding decrease in the weight of air passing through the induction system. The volume, however, remains constant.
Since it is the volume of airflow that determines the pressure drop at the throat of the venturi, the carburetor tends to meter the same amount of fuel to this thin air as to the dense air at sea level. Thus, the natural tendency is for the mixture to become richer as the airplane gains altitude. The automatic mixture control prevents this by decreasing the rate of fuel discharge to compensate for the decrease in air density.
The Idle Cutoff System
The carburetor has an idle cutoff system so that the fuel can be shut off to stop the engine. This system, incorporated in the manual mixture control, stops the fuel discharge from the carburetor completely when the mixture control lever is set to the “idle cutoff” position.
An aircraft engine is stopped by shutting off the fuel rather than by turning off the ignition. If the ignition is turned off with the carburetor still supplying fuel, fresh air-fuel mixture continues to pass through the induction system to the cylinders. As the engine is coasting to a stop and if it is excessively hot, this combustible mixture may be ignited by local hot spots within the combustion chambers. This can cause the engine to continue running or kick backward.
Also, the mixture may pass through the cylinders unburned, but be ignited in the hot exhaust manifold. Alternatively, the engine comes to an apparently normal stop, but a combustible mixture remains in the induction passages, the cylinders, and the exhaust system. This is an unsafe condition since the engine may kick over after it has been stopped and seriously injure anyone near the propeller.
When the engine is shut down by means of the idle cutoff system, the spark plugs continue to ignite the air-fuel mixture until the fuel discharge from the carburetor ceases. This should prevent the engine from coming to a stop with a combustible mixture remaining in the cylinders.
Some engine manufacturers suggest that just before the propeller stops turning, the throttle be opened wide so that the pistons can pump fresh air through the induction system, the cylinders, and the exhaust system as an added precaution against accidental kick-over. After the engine has come to a complete stop, the ignition switch is turned to the “off” position.
The Power Enrichment or Economizer System
The power enrichment system automatically increases the richness of the mixture during high power operation. It makes possible the variation in air-fuel ratio necessary to fit different operating conditions. Remember that at cruising speeds, a lean mixture is desirable for economy reasons, while at high power output, the mixture must be rich to obtain maximum power and to aid in cooling the engine cylinders.
The power enrichment system automatically brings about the necessary change in the air-fuel ratio. Essentially, it is a valve that is closed at cruising speeds and opened to supply extra fuel to the mixture during high power operation.
Although it increases the fuel flow at high power, the power enrichment system is actually a fuel saving device. Without this system, it would be necessary to operate the engine on a rich mixture over the complete power range. The mixture would then be richer than necessary at cruising speed to ensure safe operation at maximum power. The power enrichment system is sometimes called an economizer or a power compensator.
Integrated Carburetor Operation
Although the various systems have been discussed separately, the carburetor functions as a unit. The fact that one system is in operation does not necessarily prevent another from functioning.
At the same time that the main metering system is discharging fuel in proportion to the airflow, the mixture control system determines whether the resultant mixture is rich or lean. If the throttle is suddenly opened wide, the accelerating and power enrichment systems act to add fuel to that already being discharged by the main metering system.