misterg
Member
Joined: March 2021
Posts: 12
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Post by misterg on May 29, 2021 2:36:28 GMT -5
I can now hardly imagine how the assembly should work, normally you screw the shaft to the turbine wheel as shown in the picture, then you put the machine in place. Ralph, thank you! You are, of course correct - It would be extremely difficult to fit my proposed arrangement with the turbine wheel already in place on the shaft, and no sensible way to fit the turbine wheel to the shaft if the shaft is already in place in the tunnel! I will look again at preloading the front bearing. Thank you, Andy
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misterg
Member
Joined: March 2021
Posts: 12
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Post by misterg on Apr 11, 2022 5:42:47 GMT -5
Not quite a year on, and I have finished my turbine and had it running! There is a build log on my website here. I made a video of the assembly process: And the first test run on propane: (Some of you on GTBA may have seen already this) I've just had it running on liquid kerosene, and it behaved well IMHO (I have some video of the test that I'll post in the next few days). Thanks to all who have helped with this (whether they realised it or not!) It's a fun and challenging project.
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Post by jetjeff on Apr 11, 2022 15:01:20 GMT -5
Andy,
Nice work, congratulations, making a homebuilt turbine is no easy feat.
Jeff
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Post by andym on Apr 11, 2022 15:19:55 GMT -5
Nice work.... runs nice
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Post by racket on Apr 11, 2022 16:32:37 GMT -5
Hi Andy
A beautifully made engine :-)
I'm a tad concerned about the bearing lubrication though , it appeared as though the only time any lube went to the engine was when it was switched off and the engine spooled down , there seems to be a "pressure differential" issue .
Cheers John
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misterg
Member
Joined: March 2021
Posts: 12
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Post by misterg on Apr 11, 2022 16:58:18 GMT -5
I'm a tad concerned about the bearing lubrication though , it appeared as though the only time any lube went to the engine was when it was switched off and the engine spooled down , there seems to be a "pressure differential" issue . Thankyou! Yes, you are right - well spotted. I didn't notice at the time, until I was editing that video. I think it's because I took the pressure feed for the lubricant from the starting gas connector (I didn't have a 'T' piece for the pressure tapping, and naively thought that this would be the same - of course, it isn't! - The gas injector is stuck down one of the vaporiser tubes, so I guess is at less than the pressure around the front of the shaft tunnel once the engine is 'working'). Hopefully there isn't a bigger issue - I've only just run it again, but using liquid fuel this time with a bleed off to feed the bearings. New video (the thumbnail is a bit 'click-baitey' - it's a single frame from when I lit the gas - there wasn't nearly as much fire as it suggests! ) I need a decent tacho now.
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Post by racket on Apr 11, 2022 17:18:19 GMT -5
Hi Andy
Nice "click bait" ;-)
With your tach , they can be a bit of a problem in bright sunlight , I've found I need the reflective tape stuck to the comp snout along with the usual half white/black , gloss white with matt black , reflective tape on the white side .
Yep , thats a much safer setup for the lube , lotsa variations in static pressures within our engines.
I think you can be pretty happy with these early spoolups , we all have our little "problems" working out whats required by our engines "personality" , a lovely build :-)
Cheers John
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