The Clerget 16X was an experimental French 16-cylinder X engine built in about 1918.

16X
Type X-type water-cooled piston engine
National origin France
Manufacturer Clerget Blin et Cie
First run 1918

Design edit

Clerget are best known for their well engineered rotary engines produced from 1911 to the end of World War I in 1918, the first of their type to deliver fuel-air mixture to the cylinder heads by external induction tubes via externally push rod operated inlet valves. They later made a series of static radial aircraft diesel engines.[1][2][3] The experimental 16X was a departure from all of these; despite contemporary descriptions as a radial engine, it was in more modern terms an X-type, four stroke water-cooled petrol engine, essentially two 90° V-8 cylinder engines, one inverted, coupled to a common output shaft.[1]

Specifications edit

Data from Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War I[4][5]

General characteristics

  • Type: 16-cylinder X-type piston engine, with four 4-cylinder banks separated by 90°. Single sparking plug on the upper side of each cylinder.
  • Bore: 130 mm (5.1 in)
  • Stroke: 130 mm (5.1 in)
  • Displacement: 27.6 L (1,684.26 cu in)
  • Length: 1,306 mm (51.42 in)
  • Diameter: 512 mm (20.16 in)
  • Dry weight: 340.2 kg (750 lb)

Components

Performance

  • Power output: 313 kW (419.74 hp) at 1,600 rpm
  • Compression ratio: 5:1
  • Specific fuel consumption: 0.48 L/kWh (0.079 imp gal/hph; 0.095 US gal/hph)
  • Oil consumption: 0.038 L/kWh (0.0063 imp gal/hph; 0.0076 US gal/hph))

References edit

  1. ^ a b Taylor, 2001, p.279
  2. ^ Gunston, 1989, p.41
  3. ^ Lumsden, 1994, p.133
  4. ^ Taylor, 2001, p.202-3
  5. ^ Grey, 1969, pp.1b-145b

Bibliography edit

  • Gunston, Bill (1989). World Encyclopaedia of Aero Engines (2 ed.). Wellingborough: Patrick Stephens Ltd. p. 41. ISBN 1-85260-163-9.
  • Lumsden, Alec (1994). British Piston Aero-engines and their Aircraft. Shrewsbury: Airlife. p. 133. ISBN 978-1-85310-294-3.
  • Taylor, Michael (2001). Jane's fighting aircraft of World War 1. London: Jane's Publishing Company. p. 279. ISBN 978-1-85170-347-0.
  • Grey, C.G. (1969). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1919 (Facsimile ed.). David & Charles (Publishing) Limited. pp. 1b to 145b. ISBN 978-0-7153-4647-1.