Post by willisdaye on Sept 3, 2015 18:46:12 GMT -5
I'm planning on building a turbojet engine, but I've never done it before, and need some advice. I plan on re purposing a turbocharger for the turbine/compressor section of the engine. I've done a little research, and I understand that the flame tube's diameter should be twice the diameter of the compressor outlet, while the length of the tube should be 6x the diameter of the compressor output. I have basic metalworking tools, such as an angle grinder, a flux core MIG welder, and a drill with a black oxide bit set. I could get access to some shop tools like drill presses if needed, but I can usually manage with fabrication of small metal parts. I just had a couple questions.
Is standard propane a good fuel for this setup?
Is a gravity fed oil reserve a good idea for the turbocharger, or should I equip it with a proper oil system with a reservoir and a pump?
Although I'm pretty well acquainted with building and operating dangerous equipment, I've still never built a turbojet, so what are some safety tips to help make sure it doesn't burst into flames, shrapnel, etc. ? In other words, of the do's and don'ts of jet engine construction, what are the common "dont's" that get people hurt, and how can I avoid them?
Though I may implement the final product on some sort of vehicle, I plan on building and displaying it for the high school science fair several months from now, so once I get it running, what's something I can tweak to get different results, so I can make an actual experiment about it? I was thinking about trying out different output nozzles, and testing the difference in thrust. Any other ideas?
Also, on average, what is the total cost of building one of these? Given that I do have a local scrapheap that I can usually find metal tubes (namely old empty fire extinguishers) and pipes for free in. I will probably have to buy the turbocharger, but most other basic hardware (sheeting, tubing, piping and spark plugs) I can probably find there for free.
Is standard propane a good fuel for this setup?
Is a gravity fed oil reserve a good idea for the turbocharger, or should I equip it with a proper oil system with a reservoir and a pump?
Although I'm pretty well acquainted with building and operating dangerous equipment, I've still never built a turbojet, so what are some safety tips to help make sure it doesn't burst into flames, shrapnel, etc. ? In other words, of the do's and don'ts of jet engine construction, what are the common "dont's" that get people hurt, and how can I avoid them?
Though I may implement the final product on some sort of vehicle, I plan on building and displaying it for the high school science fair several months from now, so once I get it running, what's something I can tweak to get different results, so I can make an actual experiment about it? I was thinking about trying out different output nozzles, and testing the difference in thrust. Any other ideas?
Also, on average, what is the total cost of building one of these? Given that I do have a local scrapheap that I can usually find metal tubes (namely old empty fire extinguishers) and pipes for free in. I will probably have to buy the turbocharger, but most other basic hardware (sheeting, tubing, piping and spark plugs) I can probably find there for free.
