What is it about?
The article describes the restoration and modernization of the KhADI-7, a gas turbine-powered record-breaking car originally developed at the Kharkiv National Automobile and Highway University in 1966. Initially equipped with a piston engine, it was later retrofitted with a GTE-350 gas turbine engine from a MI-2 helicopter. The car set multiple national and international speed records and was showcased in exhibitions across Europe, North America, and Cuba from 1972 to 1976. Over time, it sustained mechanical and cosmetic damage, prompting the university’s racing car lab to undertake a comprehensive restoration.
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Why is it important?
The modernization included: Body restoration with student involvement; Engine repair, including installation of a new fuel pump and replacement of seals in the fuel regulator and speed limiter; Design and integration of a new gearbox to enhance power transmission; Development of a microcontroller-based engine starting system, replacing the outdated manual system. The new system includes timing and power modules, optocoupler isolation, LED indicators, and STM32 microcontroller-based logic programmed via direct register access.
Perspectives
Additional proposed upgrades include optimizing air intake and cooling systems, adopting electronic fuel injection, reducing engine weight with modern materials, implementing emissions control via exhaust gas recirculation, and exploring the use of hydrogen fuel. The rebuilt KhADI-7 has successfully passed static testing with its engine and transmission functioning as intended in idle mode. Future plans include high-speed track tests and transitioning to alternative fuels, particularly hydrogen, to further enhance performance and sustainability.
Volodymyr Korohodskyi
Kharkiv National Automobile and Highway University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The second life of the KhADI 7 record car, January 2025, American Institute of Physics,
DOI: 10.1063/12.0037093.
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