Smoke system for electric power aircraft
11-06-2009, 11:20 AM
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Smoke system for electric power aircraft
My research of smoke systems that do not relly on exhaust heat from gas engines has led to the smoke cartridges sold by Hobby-Lobby. I do not like that solution because it needs to be ignited on the ground and there is no way to stop and start it like the exhaust driven systems.
Has anyone looked into electric heating elements to replace the exhaust heat? I have looked at smoke systems for trains and boats but they do not produce enough smoke to be useful with airplanes. I imagine that the power source will be somewhat heavy but my airplane can carry about three pounds of candy so a pound of batteries should not be a problem.
Has anyone looked into electric heating elements to replace the exhaust heat? I have looked at smoke systems for trains and boats but they do not produce enough smoke to be useful with airplanes. I imagine that the power source will be somewhat heavy but my airplane can carry about three pounds of candy so a pound of batteries should not be a problem.
11-06-2009, 12:32 PM
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RE: Smoke system for electric power aircraft
It would make for a very interesting experiment.
The problems are obvious: You need heat and a lot of it.
What is not so obvious is that while it won't take much power to get an element red hot, it WILL take a lot to KEEP it hot after it has beenb cooled by the smoke oil.
You will also need at least some airflow through the mechanism, and all you have available is cold air from the outside.
But if you've got some time on your hands, it would be worth playing with.
The problems are obvious: You need heat and a lot of it.
What is not so obvious is that while it won't take much power to get an element red hot, it WILL take a lot to KEEP it hot after it has beenb cooled by the smoke oil.
You will also need at least some airflow through the mechanism, and all you have available is cold air from the outside.
But if you've got some time on your hands, it would be worth playing with.
11-06-2009, 01:01 PM
#3
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RE: Smoke system for electric power aircraft
Just short a couple wires together, it will smoke really good.
Seriously though, I wonder if there is some sort of chemical "smoke". Maybe something that could be atomized as it leaves the plane to simulate smoke or mix two components together to make smoke, etc. I've never heard of anything but you never know.
Seriously though, I wonder if there is some sort of chemical "smoke". Maybe something that could be atomized as it leaves the plane to simulate smoke or mix two components together to make smoke, etc. I've never heard of anything but you never know.
11-06-2009, 02:19 PM
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RE: Smoke system for electric power aircraft
MinnFlyer,
You point to two items I did not consider. I figured I would need a chamber where the oil will be atomized into the heating element and an exit pipe to release the smoke. The rest could be operated like a standard system except for some delay built into the oil pump to allow the heating element to reach high temperature.
Maybe it could be built as a two stage system where there is an element pre-heating the oil before pumping it to the main chamber. The input air could be passed through the pre-heating area to make sure that element is not overheated and at the same time pre-heating the air.
ChuckW,
The idea of "chemical smoke" is an interesting one... magic tricks come to mind... Any magicians outhere?
You point to two items I did not consider. I figured I would need a chamber where the oil will be atomized into the heating element and an exit pipe to release the smoke. The rest could be operated like a standard system except for some delay built into the oil pump to allow the heating element to reach high temperature.
Maybe it could be built as a two stage system where there is an element pre-heating the oil before pumping it to the main chamber. The input air could be passed through the pre-heating area to make sure that element is not overheated and at the same time pre-heating the air.
ChuckW,
The idea of "chemical smoke" is an interesting one... magic tricks come to mind... Any magicians outhere?
11-06-2009, 03:08 PM
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RE: Smoke system for electric power aircraft
Hummm! Two wires inserted into the cardtridge connected to a battery with a switch to turn it on? I am not familiar with rocketry...
11-06-2009, 03:28 PM
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RE: Smoke system for electric power aircraft
The igniter is a thin wire with a solid blob of combustable material in the middle. Positive to one side, negative to the other and when power is applied the material ignites for about a half second, very hot! It's like lighting a match. Just tape it to the smoke cartidge fuse and you'll be in business.
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXF569&P=ML
Don
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXF569&P=ML
Don
11-06-2009, 04:15 PM
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RE: Smoke system for electric power aircraft
Check out Musicans friend web site.
They have a smoke machine for those
big hair bands. You might get some ideas,
Bob
