DIY Jet engine?
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
DIY Jet engine?
Im more of a person sensitive to pollution and putting green house gasses in the atmosphere. So I had a plan for a jet engine to use methane, Was going to use methane gas for my first prototype to see how well methane ignites. Then I was going to move on to liquid methane. Advantages of methane is its light but at the same time denser than kerosene and lighter. Disadvantages is the ignition needs to be very hot, Not plasma hot. But something that needs a spark to ignite it.
Was going to focus on a small jet engine. Around 2 pounds of thrust, And around 600 grams of fuel(A gallon of liquid methane because its lighter) The estimate for how much fuel it will use is around 600 secs every gallon. So ten minutes is the flight time at full throttle. Thrust ill be about 2:1 thrust to weight ratio.
Was going to focus on a small jet engine. Around 2 pounds of thrust, And around 600 grams of fuel(A gallon of liquid methane because its lighter) The estimate for how much fuel it will use is around 600 secs every gallon. So ten minutes is the flight time at full throttle. Thrust ill be about 2:1 thrust to weight ratio.
#2
My Feedback: (4)
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Latrobe,
PA
Posts: 2,326
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Good luck.
But I think you will find that a turbine will drink WAY more fuel than you are accounting for. Also... 2 Lbs of thrust will be useless since you are projecting more than 2 Lbs just for your fuel, and fuel tank. I'm sure the weight of a tank, that would hold 600g of CNG/LNG would weigh at least 1lb on it's own. (Since you have to contain 3600 psi)
As far as a "Hobby" use.... it's not going to be viable. We want to refuel, and go fly. There isn't any real way to refill a CNG tank in the field without expensive equipment.
This is why the old propane run engines all went away.
With that said... if you get something running, post up some pics.
But I think you will find that a turbine will drink WAY more fuel than you are accounting for. Also... 2 Lbs of thrust will be useless since you are projecting more than 2 Lbs just for your fuel, and fuel tank. I'm sure the weight of a tank, that would hold 600g of CNG/LNG would weigh at least 1lb on it's own. (Since you have to contain 3600 psi)
As far as a "Hobby" use.... it's not going to be viable. We want to refuel, and go fly. There isn't any real way to refill a CNG tank in the field without expensive equipment.
This is why the old propane run engines all went away.
With that said... if you get something running, post up some pics.
Last edited by Dr Honda; 11-24-2013 at 07:57 AM.
#3
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Good luck.
But I think you will find that a turbine will drink WAY more fuel than you are accounting for. Also... 2 Lbs of thrust will be useless since you are projecting more than 2 Lbs just for your fuel, and fuel tank. I'm sure the weight of a tank, that would hold 600g of CNG would weigh at least 1lb on it's own. (Since you have to contain 3600 psi)
As far as a "Hobby" use.... it's not going to be viable. We want to refuel, and go fly. There isn't any real way to refill a CNG tank in the field without expensive equipment.
With that said... if you get someting running, post up some pics.
But I think you will find that a turbine will drink WAY more fuel than you are accounting for. Also... 2 Lbs of thrust will be useless since you are projecting more than 2 Lbs just for your fuel, and fuel tank. I'm sure the weight of a tank, that would hold 600g of CNG would weigh at least 1lb on it's own. (Since you have to contain 3600 psi)
As far as a "Hobby" use.... it's not going to be viable. We want to refuel, and go fly. There isn't any real way to refill a CNG tank in the field without expensive equipment.
With that said... if you get someting running, post up some pics.
#4
My Feedback: (1)
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: southamptonhampshire, UNITED KINGDOM
Posts: 131
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You're forgetting an important thing, kero is quite a clean fuel, it's the oil that's the nasty thing in this situation, you also need to think about the properties of methane in terms of flash point heat etc! you could end up cooking a NGV, then you have the fuel parameters in the ECU that have been setup for Kero and not methane. I'm not ruining the idea, it's very clean to use methane but it will need more input than just swapping the fuel etc
#5
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You're forgetting an important thing, kero is quite a clean fuel, it's the oil that's the nasty thing in this situation, you also need to think about the properties of methane in terms of flash point heat etc! you could end up cooking a NGV, then you have the fuel parameters in the ECU that have been setup for Kero and not methane. I'm not ruining the idea, it's very clean to use methane but it will need more input than just swapping the fuel etc
#8
My Feedback: (1)
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: southamptonhampshire, UNITED KINGDOM
Posts: 131
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Totally correct there, concrete also has a large impact aswell as peat, people panic too much with regards to 'greenhouse gasses', we have scientific proof that the air was more dense with it millions of years ago yet nature flourished with rain forests covering only a quarter of what we have now. CO2 and carbon monoxide is not something we should worry about, we should be worrying about the carcinogenics that are put into the atmosphere, carbon monoxide is a way of life for us and the plants that depend in it......
#9
So whats your plane and turbine going to be built from. Don't you think that what produces all these parts also produces pollution. I'm all in for trying to care for the environment but come on you have been brought up in today's world and not the Stone Age. This is why the only true wilderness out there is between a greenness ears.
#10
My Feedback: (2)
You're forgetting an important thing, kero is quite a clean fuel, it's the oil that's the nasty thing in this situation, you also need to think about the properties of methane in terms of flash point heat etc! you could end up cooking a NGV, then you have the fuel parameters in the ECU that have been setup for Kero and not methane. I'm not ruining the idea, it's very clean to use methane but it will need more input than just swapping the fuel etc
I applaud your enthusiasm for designing/building, but am fairly doubtful you'll be making any more difference than if you took a teaspoon of salt out of the ocean. And to build a 2lb thrust turbine?
Wait, I just got it. This ur kidding. Haha. You got us. Good one!
#12
My Feedback: (1)
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: southamptonhampshire, UNITED KINGDOM
Posts: 131
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If there was any true benefit, I'm sure it would have been done by now, but with today's turbines it's just easier to stick with the industry standard until turbines become banned and we are forced to use those noisy things called ducted fans.
#14
My Feedback: (195)
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Duluth,
GA
Posts: 788
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You guys know that our carbon footprint in the scheme of things is infantisimile compared to the volcanic activity mother nature produces, and is producing at a couple of major eruptions right now. Fly and be happy with whatever fuel you want!
Happy Flying
Loopman
Happy Flying
Loopman
#16
My Feedback: (1)
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: southamptonhampshire, UNITED KINGDOM
Posts: 131
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In one ear and out the other, the science behind it is too large for scientific models to understand it currently so as per usual the governments just point the finger!
#19
My Feedback: (11)
Any type of combustion is going to produce greenhouse gasses. Hell make a jet run off water, and you still produce a greenhouse gas called "Steam". Water vapor accounts for 70% of all greenhouse gasses.
Quit acting holier than thou. Just do the project because it will be fun. Or build a solar powered jet. Then you claim what you are saying.
Curious, what kind of vehicle do you drive?
Edit: Better Idea. Invent anti gravity.
Edit Edit: Way better Idea. Invent warp drive.
Edit Edit Edit: Way Way better idea. Invent a holodeck from star treck so I can create a hologram of a younger Jennifer Anniston.
Quit acting holier than thou. Just do the project because it will be fun. Or build a solar powered jet. Then you claim what you are saying.
Curious, what kind of vehicle do you drive?
Edit: Better Idea. Invent anti gravity.
Edit Edit: Way better Idea. Invent warp drive.
Edit Edit Edit: Way Way better idea. Invent a holodeck from star treck so I can create a hologram of a younger Jennifer Anniston.
Last edited by essyou35; 11-25-2013 at 11:37 AM.
#22
My Feedback: (1)
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: southamptonhampshire, UNITED KINGDOM
Posts: 131
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Oh god we have those con artists in the UK, forever seeing a new court case on TV because some granny was sold carbon credits that were only useable for corporations!!!
#23
Just plant a couple trees in your back yard. Let them work 24/7 sucking up all the CO2 you could possibly produce with your 2 lb thrust Hobby Engine. Call it a day and move onto something fun!
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Mount Morris,
MI
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I wonder how much coal, or natural gas would have to be burned to generate the electricity necessary to refine the aluminum needed, not to mention the oil pumped to create plastics, plus the machinery to ...Heh,Heh,Heh.....is all I can say....