Project
314 Static - IE24A Engine test

Construction

• Two engines were fired during this test. Both engines were the new IE24 engines, these two tests being revision A. This year I wanted to design an engine that was simpler to make than the previous Incendio and Ignis engines. The IE24 engine can be constructed in one afternoon and can be ready to fly the next day. IE24A had four steel grade 5, 1/4" bolts holding in the nozzle and eight 1/4" nylon bolts holding in the end cap. The end cap on this revision was made of 2 parts Kno3 and one part West Systems epoxy. The thought behind this was to use the end cap as the smoke tracer and delay element. Both engines were constructed out of 2 inch PVC 24 inches long. The nozzle was poured in the engine casing making it very simple to construct.

Pros

• The IE24 engine is very simple to construct.
• Using epoxy / Kno3 for the end cap would have reduced the total weight of the engine.

Cons

• Engine #1 blew up. The end cap and nozzle assembly remained intact but the casing ruptured.
• Engine #2 blew up. The end cap sheared the nylon bolts.
• The epoxy end cap did not seal with the fuel all the way allowing the fuel to burn uncontrollably.

Pictures

• Couplings drilled and taped to allow for retaining bolts to hold in nozzle. The holes towards the end of the pipe will be used for the fin section.
• Another view of the nozzle retaining bolts.
• Paper form used to make the nozzle form.
• Paper form in the engine casing.
• Nozzle after being poured, allowed to dry and the paper form removed.
• Rocket stuff.
• Epoxy cap drying.
• Two static engine tests.
• I tried to make an automatic fuel mixer but it didn't work out.
• Damage to the tank after the end cap blew out and hit the inside tank wall.
• Another view of the damage.
• Another view of the damage and the resulting leak.
• Another view of the damage.
• Engine casing and fuel pieces from the first test on the bench to be reconstructed to determine the cause of the failure.
• Inside look at the damage to the tank.
• Epoxy end cap and sheared off nylon bolts.
• Inside view of the engine casing showing how the fuel burnt under the end cap eroding the PVC.
• Nylon bolt holes.
• View of a few pieces of engine casing showing uncontrolled burn.

Video

• Video of the first test.
• Video of the second test.

CAD Drawings

• IE24A design.

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