The New Hybrid Turbo F1 Engines

What does the diseased liver on the lower right do?

I'd say it they cool the compressed air.

"Hoe-cake, Groin-murder", said Ladle Rat Rotten Hut.

They are actually just covers for the exhaust headers that insulate the pipes for energy recovery...These systems the MGU-H and MGU-K both are energy recovery systems...

"In an effort to reduce fuel consumption in Formula One by up to 35% the FIA have introduced wholesale changes to the technical regulations to significantly increased energy harvesting for the 2014 season.

In addition to doubling to power of the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS), first introduced in 2009, from 60 kw to 120 kw and increasing kinetic energy storage by five times from 0.4 MJ/lap to Max 2MJ/lap, a new method of heat-based Energy Recovery System has been introduced.

The regulations refer to the two devices as the 'Motor Generator Unit - Kinetic' (MGU-K) and 'Motor Generator Unit - Heat' (MGU-H). The latter uses heat energy from the turbo to generate electrical energy.

The MGU-H unit captures waste heat as it is dispelled from the exhaust turbocharger via an electric generator attached to the turbocharger shaft. This waste heat energy is stored as an electrical charge adding an additional 2MJ/lap to KERS resulting in 10x (4MJ compared to 400 kJ) as much electric power boost per lap compared to 2013 KERS."

Nice video explanation of how the energy recovery systems work....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anLDCVD6v1s

So, do you mean to say these are actually engine/turbo-generator setups (definitely a true hybrid!), or is the turbo also driven at low boost or lag scenarios?

Sorry, didn't get on the links.

Yes both...at times the generator becomes a motor and is driven for low end performance, and at times it is producing electric which charges the hybrid electric motor battery ,part of the KERS system, which can produce 120hp for 30 seconds of boosted performance on the straightaways....So it is a hybrid drive system that has a hybrid turbo-supercharger system....

t picture of the Mercedes motor!! Thanks.

It sounds ungrateful, but these links are from I believe around 2013-4. So its relatively old stuff.

But to follow your lead, do you know what is considered to be by many experts (not just me!!) the single, major, basic difference as to why Mercedes had such a commanding lead in power output over the other engine manufacturers in 2014?

They appear to have maintained it, and today in Australia, the latest offerings will be seriously tested against each other (actually still running as I write this!!), but Lewis lost the lead at the start!!!! I record it and watch later....

How about posting something detailing say the important engine changes from 2015 to 2016? Now that could be really interesting....

Thanks in advance....and Happy "Spring Solstice Day 2016" to everyone here in the Northern Hemisphere!! (Autumnal for the TRUE Southerners here!!)

"With some major rule changes planned for next year, there have only been minor tweaks to the regulations for 2016…"

https://www.formula1.com/content/fom-website/en/championship/inside-f1/rules-regs/2016_season_changes.html

"2014-present

The FIA announced the intention to change the 2.4-litre V8 engines to 1.6 litre V6 turbo engines including energy recovery systems ^[21] and containing fuel flow restrictions, in order to make Formula One more environmentally aware and to attract more commercial partners for 2014. The engines are limited to 15,000 rpm, but rarely exceed 12,000 rpm during Grand Prix due to the new reliability and fuel flow restrictions.^[22]

Of the previous suppliers, only Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault produced engines to the new formula in 2014. Honda is set to return in 2015 with their own engine, partnering McLaren who used Mercedes power for the 2014 season.^[23]

The new formula reintroduced turbocharged engines, which last appeared in 1988. These have their efficiency improved by turbo-compounding and introduce more energy recovery systems - with power to be harvested from the brakes and exhaust gases.^[24] The original proposal for four-cylinder turbocharged engines was not welcomed by the racing teams, in particular Ferrari. Adrian Newey stated during the 2011 European Grand Prix that the change to a V6 enables teams to carry the engine as a stressed member, whereas an inline 4 would have required a space frame. A compromise was reached to adopt V6 turbocharged engines instead.^[24]"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formula_One_engines

The links were good, many thanks...

The momentary dominance of the Mercedes was because of their turbo compressor design and the fact that others were hamstrung by the token system of allowed engine modifications...they just got lucky in hitting the design just right, and the others were stuck with their designs for an additional year, or possibly two...already in 2015 Ferrari is on par with Mercedes...

http://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/10072182/can-honda-and-renault-catch-mercedes-and-ferrari-for-2016

Right!!!

I have not seen any details of the latest Ferrari to see if they copied that from Mercedes or not, it looks similar.....though looking at some Italian documents, they have made some changes, but as I do not read Italian.........it certainly got there "starting" to a point that is better than Mercedes.....

It was a great race, I really enjoyed it.

https://www.formula1.com/content/fom-website/en/latest/headlines/2016/3/rosberg-wins-drama-filled-melbourne-race.html

F1 secrets of materials technology...a series by Richard Hammond

They show in succession

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4QyxGE2414

While looking at that video, I noticed this one, which I also found fascinating!!

Mercedes F1 gearbox secrets revealed