Gaspar Xicoy X45, User Manual

Page 1: ...Xicoy X45 TurboJet Engine User Manual Version 1 1 2019 ...

Page 2: ...stallation Electrical connections 16 ECU setup 17 Preparing the engine for running 19 Important notes for kerostart engines PLEASE READ 19 During startup 20 First engine runs 19 Starting the engine 21 Engine shut down procedure 21 WHAT TO DO IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY 22 Adjusting the engine maximum power 22 Autorestart function 22 Throttle curves 24 Acceleration and deceleration settings 25 Exha...

Page 3: ...bar standard for this new generation of small jet engines Features 45N 10lb of thrust in a tiny 60mm case Low Idle thrust just 1 8N 6 5oz Low weight of 395g 14oz Valves installed on engine ECU mounted on engine Internal kero burner and thermocouple for clean exterior Compatible with diesel and kerosene Incredible start to idle of just 25secs Fast spool up to max rpm Super fast auto restart with no...

Page 4: ...Xicoyturbines com Legal The engine design and contents of this User Manual are copyright Xicoy Electronica SL Canet de Mar Barcelona Spain All rights are reserved This User manual pictures and data are the property of Xicoy Electronica SL and cannot be used or reproduced in any way with written permission from Xicoy Electronica SL Disclaimer This X45 engine is a very sophisticated piece of machine...

Page 5: ...reassemble without considerable difficulty and specialist equipment Simply slackening the compressor nut on the engine will lose the delicate balance condition of rotor without which the engine may not run without sustaining damage to the rotating assembly This warranty is voided if any one or more of the following conditions applies In such a case Xicoy Electronica SL will accept no responsibilit...

Page 6: ...very fast to start initiate only when ready Please note this engine is extremely fast to spool to maximum thrust use the throttle control carefully especially with very small models Be aware of the extreme intake suction use the available and supplied intake filter screen always Always run the engine in open air as engine exhaust contains gases which can cause asphyxiation and nuisance smells The ...

Page 7: ...t of air in a limited space so only run outside in open air Never try to slow the engine by placing any kind of restriction on the intake or the exhaust or on the model The suction is more powerful than any vacuum cleaner and can do severe damage to anything passing into the intake It can also collapse an airframe where insufficient area for the intake air is provided or is restricted in some way ...

Page 8: ...engine from the usual knocks and bumps associated with engine install and refit If the thermocouple needs attention please refer to nearest Service Agent or direct to Xicoy Electronica SL as the engine case requires opening to access it The engine starter is a high quality high speed brushless unit The power driver for this is part of the ECU It should go without saying you cannot replace this wit...

Page 9: ...e The starting sequence is controlled by an electronic system fitted to the engine ECU which initiates the start sequence and controls the parameters of the engine within design limits The engine rotor shaft is supported by two ceramic bearings which are lubricated by a small percentage bleed off the pressurized main fuel supply which should contain a small percentage of oil for this purpose The r...

Page 10: ...t the ECU battery If battery is sited at some distance perhaps in the nose of the aircraft please contact Xicoy and ask for a longer cable in one piece Please don t cut it and splice in a couple of old bits of wire to make it longer A heavy duty extension can be used but check polarity before plugging in Its always better to have a longer single piece cable for minimum volt drop and maximum reliab...

Page 11: ...by plugging it into any other FADEC brushless pump control or similar type 3 phase driver It does not work like that and you will destroy it in the process Component Description ECU Engine Control Unit The ECU and indeed the whole system used on this engine are totally new and unlike any previous version of Xicoy ECU It is a new controller developed specifically for this application by Xicoy Elect...

Page 12: ...fuel option and leave the ECU to use its pre set start routine To limit the engine to a reduced maximum rating there is a simple setting in the RUN menu which shows maximum rpm with a corresponding nominal thrust figure So it is easy to dial in say 35N 8lbs without having to know the rpm setting for this This adjustment is operative between 20N 4 5lbs and maximum Battery recognition Another additi...

Page 13: ...show what is available for the X45 at any time new items are being added regularly The Hub has a printed panel showing where each cable goes and the orientation of each plug For all cables if you need a longer or shorter version than supplied please contact Xicoy Do not cut or splice in extra wire Battery should be connected directly to the Hub not using switches electronic regulators diodes etc M...

Page 14: ...DC motor based pumps So the old juggle with adjustable pump start point is no more To accommodate the idealising of the start process required for kero and diesel fuels we have pre programmed in an optimised sequence for each activated by a simple switch in the START menu Select the fuel type you are using and the ECU does the rest Replacement pump pre set In event of the pump needing replacement ...

Page 15: ... small case with a servo type lead coming out This can be plugged into the Hub as required or can be connected and mounted permanently in the plane The other type is a very small black and white small screen integrated onto the Hub This is internally electrically connected to the connector board so requires no additional lead but cannot be removed from the plane Both displays include dedicated scr...

Page 16: ...very careful of is any cable or battery connector which is not standard or has been modified in some way as this can risk reverse connection of power supply which will easily destroy ECU and other components so please be extra vigilant before using junkbox cables and or adapters It s always best to use those supplied in the engine package which have been used in setting the engine up for its facto...

Page 17: ... aligned to the radio system This is a simple procedure which should be done whenever your radio is programmed for a model or the engine is new or returned from service or repair Confirm you have connected the ECU signal input to the throttle channel on your receiver Connect the display to the Hub if your system uses a separate display Connect the ECU battery and note the display screen illuminate...

Page 18: ...if at all possible Aligning transmitter with ECU As the display does not photograph well we have reproduced the display readings as a green box Turn on the transmitter and receiver The opening screen should show as below Follow the steps shown to set your radio The correct adjustment of the throttle adjustment on the ECU can be verified in the second screen of the display as used before The percen...

Page 19: ...uality woodscrews Use at least 20mm 3 4 long to be sure the engine is properly secure A platform table workbench is required to clamp or fix the test stand onto Make sure this can be easily transported outside and weight enough to ensure it cannot be blown over by the thrust of the engine Set up the fuel tank fuel pump battery and display onto the baseboard ideally secured Nothing should be fixed ...

Page 20: ...AME INSIDE THE ENGINE If there is flame then set the trim to idle position The starter will be energized while the temperature is over 100ºC cooling down the engine automatically If temperature reading is low you can get the starter running in manual mode by setting full throttle for over 3 seconds to engage the starter and blow out the flame USE SHORT BURSTS OF STARTER Using the starter for long ...

Page 21: ...ted the display will change to SwitchOver during this phase fuel is also routed to main injectors and speed of the rotor will be progressively increased to about 8 000RPM Once this phase is finished the RPM rises to 10 000RPM and the reading will be FUEL RAMP In this phase the ignition system is switched off The fuel flow and starter power will be increased automatically to increase the RPM quickl...

Page 22: ...tion can quickly restart an engine automatically but it should be understood that such a system may cause damage to people and property if triggered inappropriately By default this function is disabled in the ECU the user should expressly enable it By enabling this function the user agrees that they have understood the working principles and understands its limitations Restart options and how to e...

Page 23: ...ion the procedure is aborted and the normal cooldown initiated What the Autorestart function will not do It will not restart the engine if the shutdown was caused by any fault other than a typical flame out caused by air in the fuel system It will not monitor and confirm flight conditions are optimum for a restart Leaving the restart to progress is the pilot responsibility and decision depending o...

Page 24: ...on is not the replacement of a poor fuel system It can save a plane in particular circumstances but it can do much more harm than good A belly landing or landing gear damage due to a flameout induced heavy landing is more favourable than a similar landing arrival with the engine in start phase that can possibly cause a fire and result in total destruction of the model and or property Please consid...

Page 25: ...over 500m then the engine could experiment difficulties in accelerating Always best to test carefully when on the ground to see the engine behaviour Listen for any sign of the engine in difficulty during throttle up or down In these cases try to set the acceleration to normal slow or very slow to find a setting where the engine operate normally It is much better to have an engine respond slower to...

Page 26: ...odes Here is a list of possible messages shown on the data terminal screen and their meaning TrimLow Indicates that the signal received from the transmitter corresponds to the lowered trim that is to say engine OFF Ready Indicates that the engine is ready for starting and that the transmitter signal corresponds to IDLE LED lit twice StickLo This indicates that the throttle stick is in a position a...

Page 27: ...n order to access these measures it is necessary to shut down and power up the ECU Set the trim down trimLow and push the left button on the display The ECU will show the cause of last shutdown and the parameters value at the moment of shut down Diagnosis messages 1 UserOff The engine has been shut down because it has received the shutdown command from the transmitter 2 FailSafe The engine has bee...