Project
Sugar / Kno3 engine

Construction

• These engines were the first tests using cast sugar / Kno3. The sugar / Kno3 mixture was heated with water in an electric wok at 300 deg. until all the water had boiled out and the sugar was in a molten form. The fuel was then poured into a Schedule 40 PVC engine casing, a mandrel for the fuel core was inserted and the engine was left to cool. This method of casting sugar / Kno3 fuel is still used in current projects with a few exceptions listed later. A PVC male adapter was used to hold in the Pourstone choke used as a nozzle and a PVC cap was used to hold in the Pourstone end cap. Ignition was electric. All PVC was 1 1/2".

Pros

• Very inexpensive to manufacturer. All materials are widely available.
• Casting directly into PVC casing is simple and convenient.

Cons

• A choke for the nozzle is not efficient.
• End cap continues to blow out.

Pictures

• First static test, end cap blows off.
• Second static test, end cap blows off.
• Third static test, end cap blows off.

Video

• None

CAD Drawings

• None