Project
215 Static
Test Analysis
- These static tests were made under the theory that the current nozzle configuration and end cap configuration are structurally sound and reason the casings are failing is because there is too much fuel in the engine which is creating too high a chamber pressure, expanding the PVC and cracking the fuel causing a failure. There must be a structural limit to the Kno3/Sugar fuel that will be reliable even when case bonded. If the engines are kept under that pressure limit, the fact that they are case bonded should not matter. These engines were constructed by setting that structural limit at 16" of fuel.
Construction
- 16" of fuel in schedule 80 PVC pipe with Pourstone nozzles.
Pros
- Engines worked well.
- Easy to construct. I hadn't planned on testing today until yesterday afternoon. I made two engines overnight and drove out to test them. This is the strength of this design, that two engines can be made from scratch in a matter of hours.
- Inexpensive, each engine cost under seven dollars.
Cons
- Engines are not very efficient yet. There is 2.6 lbs. of fuel in each engine and each engine produced 900 Ns. I would like to see that number up to 1200 Ns.
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