jamiep
Veteran Member
Joined: November 2010
Posts: 102
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Post by jamiep on Feb 23, 2011 12:13:02 GMT -5
My name is Jamie and I live in Nashville, TN. I decided to build a turbine after seeing some pulse jets in person. I liked their loudness and power, but wanted the authentic spool-up sound of a turbine  I started actual building a couple months back and the attached pic is where I am at now. I scored the new T3/T4 turbo from ebay for $100. The oil system will be run at 12 volts. For ignition, I will be using a spark plug and a stun gun. The oil tank, flame tube, and combustion chamber are built from fire extinguishers. The reason for the build was I just got a welder and plasma cutter for my birthday and needed a good project to learn to weld. A jet seemed logical ;D Once done, the whole thing will be stripped down and painted. Afterburner is planned as well. This will be great for 4th of july and new years eve. Feedback? jamie Attachments:
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Post by Johansson on Feb 23, 2011 13:03:46 GMT -5
Hi Jamie, That rig is looking good!  The exhaust tube bend between the combustor and the turbine, is it mild steel or stainless? You should use stainless for the hot parts before the turbine wheel since thin mild steel will soon start to flake off and possibly damage the turbine wheel tips. Cheers! /Anders |
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jamiep
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Joined: November 2010
Posts: 102
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Post by jamiep on Feb 23, 2011 14:24:26 GMT -5
The pipe is currently exhaust pipe. I figure this will be run for short durations for parties and giggles. Prob. not powering a vehicle. I designed the combustion chamber to be on the large side so it should work with different fuels down the road. As for the afterburner - has anyone played with using the small coleman fuel propane stove bottles? I was considering mounting one upside down in my rig and having a 12volt solenoid valve to control the gas flow into the afterburner. Not expecting long duration necessarily... Jamie Attachments:
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jamiep
Veteran Member
Joined: November 2010
Posts: 102
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Post by jamiep on Feb 23, 2011 14:30:16 GMT -5
Here is a pic of the steel plates I cut with the plasma cutter. It is 3/16" steel sheet. I bought the Plasma Cut50 off of ebay for around $300 and that thing is crazy fun. It blows right through everything I have tried. You can see in the pic the ghetto rig circle cutter I made from a piece of steel and some washers. Jamie Attachments:
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jamiep
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Joined: November 2010
Posts: 102
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Post by jamiep on Feb 23, 2011 14:57:58 GMT -5
Here is the circle cutter... Attachments:
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Post by Johansson on Feb 23, 2011 16:49:11 GMT -5
Neat circle cutter!
Using propane as an afterburner fuel is really a waste of propane, gasoline or diesel is a much better fuel for that.
If you find the time and will after you get this engine running I think you should convert it to diesel fuel, much less "issues" with emptied propane bottles and so on.
Plus the smell of semi-combusted diesel smoke makes the ladies go wild! ;D
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Post by Richard OConnell on Feb 24, 2011 1:44:16 GMT -5
Hi jamie Looks like you're gonna have some fun with that rig As for afterburner fuel, I would suggest either diesel or a 50/50 mix of gas and diesel. Adding gas makes the flame burn better in my opinion. |
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jamiep
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Joined: November 2010
Posts: 102
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Post by jamiep on Feb 25, 2011 10:45:26 GMT -5
As for the 50/50 gas and diesel mix for afterburner...is there any risk of explosion/danger? I know gas flashes more than diesel?
jamie
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Post by Richard OConnell on Feb 27, 2011 22:30:27 GMT -5
Sorry for the late reply. I disassembled my computer for some hard maintenance and was a little slack on getting it back together. Our crew has been using the gas/diesel mixture for a while now and havent had any problems out of it. The gas in the mixture makes it a good bit easier to light and produces some spectacular flame effects, but also brings some risk with it. We use insulated lines and check valves with our hardware.
I know Chris has also used the 50/50 mix in the turbine van, but I think he was getting better results at the track on straight diesel.
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Post by racket on Feb 28, 2011 0:29:31 GMT -5
Hi Richard
Yeh , 50/50 mix will have a lower density, by ~5% , so a fuel system that meters volume rather than weight will be supplying 5% less energy to the engine :-(
Cheers
John
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Post by Richard OConnell on Feb 28, 2011 8:32:48 GMT -5
Hello John
Unfortunately Chris's van only has a single fuel tank. His "afterburners" are really for nothing more than show since his engine is designed for shaft output. Well, maybe it produces a little thrust, comparable to the exhaust pipes on a honda civic.
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Post by racket on Feb 28, 2011 16:23:29 GMT -5
Hi Richard
heh heh , it certainly puts on a good show :-)
Cheers
John
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jamiep
Veteran Member
Joined: November 2010
Posts: 102
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Post by jamiep on Mar 9, 2011 14:46:58 GMT -5
More progress. Cut a raiator guard as well as an instrument panel. The plasma was great with a straight edge and then a quick finish on the belt sander. Scored a pyrometer and thermocouple sensor off the net. Also should have a box of gauges and connectors from Surplus Center coming. jamie Attachments:
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Post by racket on Mar 9, 2011 16:06:59 GMT -5
Hi Jamie
LOL.......you're having fun with that plasma :-))
It'll be getting close once you start fitting gauges .
Cheers
John
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jamiep
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Joined: November 2010
Posts: 102
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Post by jamiep on Mar 29, 2011 14:45:54 GMT -5
Combustion chamber and flame tube done. Ready for paint. Jamie Attachments:
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