Finally started my pulse jet project - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

TheDon · #1 01-22-2007, 09:41 PM

Finally!.

What I did today is create a pulse jet using a jam jar and some methanol. Really I did.. no pics though..maybe tomorrow.

What I did according to the instructions and calculations on pulse-jets.com is put a hole in the lid 1/5th the diamter of the opening and put a tablespoon of methanol in the jar.. Shook it and wiped the lid inside and out.. Put it behind some lexan while some students from class watched and my teacher(this was during lunch and we dont go to lunch(3 of us)... Lit a long match and put it above the opening.. the jar went Wooossshhhh and the methanol fumes caught and ignited the inside of the jar.. it looked as if the jar wasnt doing what it was supposed to but I turned the lights off quickly and a bright blue flame in a conical shape was pulsing..

I did it.. It works! It was sooo cool. I can't wait til I make one for the next trial out of some iron pipe and fittings.. then onto the large version with rolled cone sections and stainless steel.. Donations of scrap metal anyone?

Larry Delor · #2 01-22-2007, 10:12 PM

Look! Up in the sky! It's a Bird! - It's a plane! - No, it's TheDon flying through the skies on his pulse jet! Look out for that tree!

Yes - pics! (before you should blow yourself up) Be safe!

TheDon · #3 01-23-2007, 01:22 PM

I got it to run. Sadly no video as I did not think it would run on the first try. I did try for a second go(with a vid cam) But it did not run.

The first run it was going for about 20 seconds and made a purring sound slightly louder than a normal conversation. Its soo cool that I made thrust with no moving parts.. Gotta love the kadency effect

Mistress · #4 01-23-2007, 01:27 PM

Damn it man we need photos! You were wearing your safety goggles weren't you? I had to ask. Good for you. I thought I saw a Flintstones jelly jar sailing thru the air.

Dee8go · #5 01-23-2007, 01:27 PM

Don't forget your safety glasses, Don!

Dee8go · #6 01-23-2007, 01:29 PM

You're going to have to change your screen name to "Dr. No" at this rate, Don. What's next, an anti-matter, quantum-pulse gun?

WVOtoGO · #7 01-23-2007, 01:39 PM

I was thinking more down the lines of:

Look! In the back of that ambulance! It's a Bird! - It's a plane! - No, it's TheDon on his way to the hospital with half his body and face full of glass!

Call me a stick in the mud. And, far be it for me to knock anyone’s interest in aviation or propulsion in any respect. But - It seems to me that “methanol in the jar”, “Lit a long match” and “ignited the inside of the jar” just don’t sound right in the same story. Glad to hear you had the lexan shield, but.....

Oh well - Keep up the strive for knowledge. But please - Be safe

TheDon · #8 01-23-2007, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dee8go

Don't forget your safety glasses, Don!

I've got a 1/4" of lexan between me and the jar(and safetys as well). I've got some plans for a larger pulse jet that can be made out of black iron pipe. If that goes succesful I'll invest in making one out of some stainless (full sized it is like 5 feet long ish and the pipe diamter is 4" and 6" for the combustion chamber)

If the jar did fail it would not explode really. It would crack first and the pressure difference would immediatly stop combustion and the jar would crumble.. But thats if you introduce it to thermal shock or get it waaay to hot.

kip Foss · #9 01-23-2007, 01:43 PM

Don,

Go on the net and look up 'jet powered beer cooler'. It shows you how to make a jet engine out of a car turbocharger. It used to have a biazillion links and was some really interesting reading.

WVOtoGO · #10 01-23-2007, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDon

I've got a 1/4" of lexan between me and the jar(and safetys as well). I've got some plans for a larger pulse jet that can be made out of black iron pipe. If that goes succesful I'll invest in making one out of some stainless (full sized it is like 5 feet long ish and the pipe diamter is 4" and 6" for the combustion chamber)

If the jar did fail it would not explode really. It would crack first and the pressure difference would immediatly stop combustion and the jar would crumble.. But thats if you introduce it to thermal shock or get it waaay to hot.

Or - If you listen to that guy standing there that says: “Maybe it will work better if we put more fuel in it !!”

Lots of cool stuff on the web regarding this sort of stuff. Glad to hear you're into it. Keep it up. Just be safe.

Dee8go · #11 01-23-2007, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDon

I've got a 1/4" of lexan between me and the jar(and safetys as well). I've got some plans for a larger pulse jet that can be made out of black iron pipe. If that goes succesful I'll invest in making one out of some stainless (full sized it is like 5 feet long ish and the pipe diamter is 4" and 6" for the combustion chamber)

If the jar did fail it would not explode really. It would crack first and the pressure difference would immediatly stop combustion and the jar would crumble.. But thats if you introduce it to thermal shock or get it waaay to hot.

Okay. I'm sure you know way more about it than I do, Don. Just remember, we'd really miss you here, if you were to blow yourself up. I don't want to read about you in the Darwin Awards, Okay? Or the Einstein Awards for the matter.

WVOtoGO · #12 01-23-2007, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dee8go

Okay. I'm sure you know way more about it than I do, Don. Just remember, we'd really miss you here, if you were to blow yourself up. I don't want to read about you in the Darwin Awards, Okay? Or the Einstein Awards for the matter.

X2

TheDon · #13 01-23-2007, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kip Foss

Don,

Go on the net and look up 'jet powered beer cooler'. It shows you how to make a jet engine out of a car turbocharger. It used to have a biazillion links and was some really interesting reading.

That was my original project idea.. I posted earlier here about it..

Safety is my #1 concern so I have everything where it should be. Fire extinguisher, chemical shower, eye wash sink all within 15 feet of me.

Dee8go · #14 01-23-2007, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kip Foss

Don,

Go on the net and look up 'jet powered beer cooler'. It shows you how to make a jet engine out of a car turbocharger. It used to have a biazillion links and was some really interesting reading.

Don't encourage the boy, Kip. He'll get into enough trouble on his own without us here to egg him on.

I just wish the Don lived in Virginia. I'd like to go watch. . . from a safe distance, of course.

Hey, Don, ever go to see October Sky? If you haven't seen it, I'm sure you'd love it. You remind me of the kid in the movie, Homer Hickam.

WVOtoGO · #15 01-23-2007, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dee8go

Don't encourage the boy, Kip. He'll get into enough trouble on his own without us here to egg him on.

I just wish the Don lived in Virginia. I'd like to go watch. . . from a safe distance, of course.

Hey, Don, ever go to see October Sky? If you haven't seen it, I'm sure you'd love it. You remind me of the kid in the movie, Homer Hickam.

Gotta love his dad.

“DAMN IT, HOMER....”