Gas turbine

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So I lost interest in the snow machine after only two nights of weather cold enough to make snow. Granted, the local ABC news crew did show up on one of those nights. Figured it was time for a project that wasn't weather dependent. Having fun already! More description to follow but figured I'd start with a few pictures. Attached Images----------MM180Lincoln PrecisionTig 225Hypertherm PM45Dyn 200dx
Reply:Few more pictures. Attached Images----------MM180Lincoln PrecisionTig 225Hypertherm PM45Dyn 200dx
Reply:thats sweet ive always wanted to make one of those
Reply:So what is this one for, are you building your own forge?Thank you....Life is tough, tougher when your stupid...2xMiller Matic 252Miller PassportSpoolMate 100Miller Dynasty 200dxThermal Dynamics A80-mounted to PlasmaCamThermal Dynamics 52-PortableMiller Trail Blazer 320
Reply:Few more pictures. Getting close to go time! Still need to plumb in the oil pressure, boost and EGT gauges and get the compressor connected to the combustion chamber, but i hope to fire this beast up this week  Attached Images----------MM180Lincoln PrecisionTig 225Hypertherm PM45Dyn 200dx
Reply:He's building one of these:http://www.asciimation.co.nz/beer/  Those things are great.  They scare the bejesus out of the neighbors with an 0darkthirty spool up!Any plans for the afterburner/wiener roaster ?RogerOld, Tired, and GRUMPYSalesman will call, Batteries not included, Assembly is required, and FREE ADVICE IS WORTH EXACTLY WHAT YOU PAY FOR IT!Dial Arc 250HFThunderbolt 225 AC/DCAssorted A/O torches
Reply:put it on a go kart for the kids
Reply:Gokart or golf cart would be fun indeed! Was actually thinking about using another turbo for a PTO. I cant imagine the thrust from these home built contraptions would be an efficient way to drive anything. When all is said and done with this project, the plan is to donate it to a local high school for demonstration in shop classes. The teacher is a former Navy aircraft mechanic, and he is thrilled at the prospect of using this as a motivational tool. Few more pictures... Attached Images----------MM180Lincoln PrecisionTig 225Hypertherm PM45Dyn 200dx
Reply:I have a newfound respect for anyone making anything conical out of metal. What a f'in pain in the ***! Attached Images----------MM180Lincoln PrecisionTig 225Hypertherm PM45Dyn 200dx
Reply:Theres a big cam somewhere missing its turbo...Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:Compressor to combustion chamber piping is done. Gauges are ready to be connected. Hoping to get a video of a startup this evening  Attached Images----------MM180Lincoln PrecisionTig 225Hypertherm PM45Dyn 200dx
Reply:I think for a cone you usually cut a circle out of some sheet metal, then slice a radius in the circle, and overlap the edges you just cut as far as you need to get the angle taper you need. Then you cut the tip of the cone off and the excess overlap and you have a reducing cone.Is that a power steering pump for the oil supply? Just curious how that will work... a bypass around the turbo for most of the flow? If you do some searching, you might find a toyota mr2 on the web that has 3 homemade turbine on the back of it, which has actually moved under its own power!Cool project! Are you going to have any way to measure thrust?miller syncrowave 250hobart handler 140home made 400 amp engine driven in progress...
Reply:It is a power steering pump off of a 2001 Passat. Its a gerotor style pump that seems to provide much more adjustability as compared to the typical vane pump. I do have a bypass loop feeding back to the oil tank, but i have found that i only need to have the bypass ball valve slightly cracked. I used a pneumatic motor that was part of an agitator/stirring assembly of a paint spray bucket, and it is perfect at the low RPMs needed to keep the oil pressure around 40PSI. I do plan to measure the thrust eventually, but for now i'm just going to chain the table to an eye bolt in the garage floor to prevent this thing from scooting out of the driveway. At least using propane as a fuel, I won't have to worry about any excess pooling in the combustion chamber causing a runaway. Just shut it off and the system winds down immediately.----------MM180Lincoln PrecisionTig 225Hypertherm PM45Dyn 200dx
Reply:If you ever change fuel, add a large dump valve between the compressor and combustion chamber to solve the runaway problem.  Vent most of the compressed air and the thing should spool down quickly.I also thought about a cap that fits over the compressor intake (similar to how you'd choke down a runaway diesel), but I worried that might stall the compressor and stress it.  I'm no turbo expert.Dynasty200DX w/coolmate1MM210MM VintageESAB miniarc161ltsLincoln AC225Victor O/A, Smith AW1ACutmaster 81IR 2475N7.5FPRage3Jancy USA1019" SBAEAD-200LE
Reply:Dump valve is a great idea. I thought about an inducer cap, but like you said, i would imagine that that would put a tremendous amount stress on the compressor wheel. Until i convert it to run on liquid fuel, i should be safe with a quick hand on the propane tank valve.----------MM180Lincoln PrecisionTig 225Hypertherm PM45Dyn 200dx
Reply:Ball valves are inexpensive and MUCH faster than turning a LP tank valve.
Reply:i think a restricted inlet would not cause much of an issue. Turbos in older carb setups basically had a throttle plate in front of them. They were called draw through carb setups. They used a slightly different oil seal on the shaft though in order to prevent the vacuum from pulling the oil right out of the turbo. Unloading the turbo could actually be worse if it allows an overspeed situation.  On a car it would overspeed, but with just a combustion chamber that was also unloaded, ie not still powering the turbine side it should not increase compressor revs.miller syncrowave 250hobart handler 140home made 400 amp engine driven in progress...
Reply:EGT probe installed and working. It's going to be a loud saturday morning in my neighborhood!  Attached Images----------MM180Lincoln PrecisionTig 225Hypertherm PM45Dyn 200dx
Reply:I have to say that you have invested a lot of knowledge and work to make a new wheel just like the old one but it does look like fun. and the work looks good.  I guess you probably know that the three 90 degree elbows will cause quit a loss in volume or flow in your turbo to engine connection.  But you probably have extra anyway.  Mac
Reply:Cool project.  Can I ask why??
Reply:Sure..... I have no idea ----------MM180Lincoln PrecisionTig 225Hypertherm PM45Dyn 200dx
Reply:all you are lacking is a power turbine and a constant speed prop !
Reply:So how loud was this past Saturday?  I think it's really cool that local high school kids may get to see it.  It could inpsire some of them that might not be otherwise interested in fabrication/engineering.
Reply:Well quite possibly the loudest thing i have ever heard. No videos yet as one design issue prevented me from having a free hand to record. I was using an igniter from a propane grill to get this thing going and the spark is just too cold for reliable ignition. The air flow has to be so low for that spark to catch that i end up with complete combustion and oxygen starvation in the flame tube, and a REALLY loud backfire! I am building a buzz coil with an automotive ignition coil, condenser and relay this evening and should get a good hot spark for a proper startup. Tried using the dynasty on 3A DC, pulsed with the lowest peak and it still ate up the plug.  Videos coming soon!Last edited by bboyd; 03-19-2012 at 02:15 PM.----------MM180Lincoln PrecisionTig 225Hypertherm PM45Dyn 200dx
Reply:Originally Posted by bboydWell quite possibly the loudest thing i have ever heard. No videos yet as one design issue prevented me from having a free hand to record. I was using an igniter from a propane grill to get this thing going and the spark is just too cold for reliable ignition. The air flow has to be so low for that spark to catch that i end up with complete combustion and oxygen starvation in the flame tube, and a REALLY loud backfire! I am building a buzz coil with an automotive ignition coil, condenser and relay this evening and should get a good hot spark for a proper startup. Tried using the dynasty on 3A DC, pulsed with the lowest peak and it still ate up the plug.  Videos coming soon!Well, after countless hours working on a fuel delivery system and turbine inlet, we have a self-sustaining dual-fuel working gas turbine. Still have the problem of the propane regulator safety cut off when wide open, but im going to T another tank and reg into the mix. Kerosene addition is a big help, but these oil burner nozzles keep clogging. I need to flush out that whole system and add a fuel filter. Anyways, here is a video of this contraption at idle, until the propane reg cuts out.[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyPPsS8SjvA[/ame]----------MM180Lincoln PrecisionTig 225Hypertherm PM45Dyn 200dx
Reply:you need to fit that onto a go cart..www.thefusionsolution.com
Reply:I would like to point out that you're "that" neighbor. You know, the kind I'd love to have.There are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger
Reply:Getting closer on the fuel system. Still need to get more into the chamber to get it off idle. Another video.[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPkWdytwyV0&feature=youtube_gdata_player[/ame]----------MM180Lincoln PrecisionTig 225Hypertherm PM45Dyn 200dx
Reply:I'm no expert, or even amateur on these things....but I've got a suggestion:insulation! Turbo blanket for the turbine side, and a filter for the compressor inlet. Those compressors are really fragile, something gets sucked in there by mistake and that could eat the turbo.This is so awesome though. Wish I could build something like this!Hobart EZ-Tig newbie.
Reply:That regulator is likely running out of capacity. It just cant feed enough volume for your very particular need.What propane pressure are you running at? Maybe liquid cant boil off fast enough?My wife says I cant make one, so somebodys gotta one dialed in for the rest of us!!Lincoln Power MIG 210 MP ( boat anchor )Lincoln Weld-Pac 100 HDHobart IronMan 230Cutmaster 42Jackson NexGenSumner Ultra ClampsDWM120
Reply:The propane reg is definitely undersized for this application. It has an air-fuse type free-flow cutoff that is very problematic. I do have kerosene at 100 psi through a 65deg hollow cone nozzle, but it's only .85gal/hr so it, by itself, is also insufficient. Thought about running directly off the propane tank with just a needle valve. A lot of homemade turbine designs actually pull liquid propane out of the tank and preheat in copper around the turbine housing so I suppose its doable and not significantly more dangerous than any other component in this system. Please speak up if there are any safety oversights in this assumption that I'm missing. The tank is still likely to freeze up, but for a short run it should give enough gas. We'll see tomorrow I suppose.Here is the "bidness" end of the fuel delivery system. Propane out of the brass nipple. Kerosene out of the stainless oil burner nozzle. Igniter as well, which sparks to a piece of stainless filler as an electrode in the flame tube. Attached ImagesLast edited by bboyd; 04-06-2012 at 11:18 PM.----------MM180Lincoln PrecisionTig 225Hypertherm PM45Dyn 200dx
Reply:Safety over site ? Lol you already built a bomb lol, but it's cool and you beat me to it so great job.
Reply:That is an awfully fancy cig. lighter you got there. Keep up the interesting work (as long as you live in someone elses neighbourhood)Seriously very interesting and in my neighbourhood I am that guy.Miller thunderbolt 250Decastar 135ERecovering tool-o-holic ESAB OAI have been interested or involved in Electrical, Fire Alarm, Auto, Marine, Welding, Electronics ETC to name a just a few. So YES you can own too many tools.
Reply:If you wanted to complicate things a bit, maybe you could do methanol injection?Hobart EZ-Tig newbie.
Reply:Straight from the propane tank did the trick. I'm now easily able to get turbine speed up to 90k rpm with room to go. Don't think i want to push it much further than that though. Here is a video of 50K rpm. Afterburner is going on tomorrow [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUbsxsXGJHg[/ame]----------MM180Lincoln PrecisionTig 225Hypertherm PM45Dyn 200dx
Reply:No more videos today, but did get the afterburner can put together. Nozzles going in next... Attached Images----------MM180Lincoln PrecisionTig 225Hypertherm PM45Dyn 200dx
Reply:After the afterburner how about a vectored thrust nozzle. That way you can clean the snow off the driveway.......Great job on building this by the way....Sign on East Texas payphone: Calls to God 40 cents......it's a local call...
Reply:Ha! Riiiight.. The snow..... I think i'm done with that obsession. I know it's all about enjoying the process of creating these things, but two nights below freezing was just a slap in the face. So those little pictures of the afterburner can just suck, so here is one that's a bit more revealing. Can't wait to see what it looks like with raw kerosene in the exhaust! I did a quick run with just the afterburner can late yesterday afternoon. Boost pressure was about 20PSI. Don't know what the turbine speed was as my tach won't go above 100k, but guessing somewhere around 150-175k. While previous tests have been somewhat loud, the sound of this was just insane! Bushes on the neighbors house across the street were also getting a little wind blown. Will post up more vids as soon as i have them.Thank you to everyone for the compliments and subtle encouragement! Attached Images----------MM180Lincoln PrecisionTig 225Hypertherm PM45Dyn 200dx
Reply:The level of badassery has increased tenfold.Hobart EZ-Tig newbie.
Reply:Unsuccessful afterburner test, but I did loud up the neighborhood Oil burner nozzles are way to small for this. Going to try something a little bigger.[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMCcgEfMOok&feature=youtube_gdata_player[/ame]----------MM180Lincoln PrecisionTig 225Hypertherm PM45Dyn 200dx
Reply:If you could make that a bit less noisy you could probably sell it to a hair salonHypertherm Powermax45Miller auto 140 migMiller Econotig Watercooledwith wp24w TorchLincoln Power255XTNew(Lincoln V205 ac/dc)Miller Elite Helmet
Reply:I think hair that big died with the 80's.----------MM180Lincoln PrecisionTig 225Hypertherm PM45Dyn 200dx
Reply:It would probably work great for hair removal!Dynasty200DX w/coolmate1MM210MM VintageESAB miniarc161ltsLincoln AC225Victor O/A, Smith AW1ACutmaster 81IR 2475N7.5FPRage3Jancy USA1019" SBAEAD-200LE
Reply:Afterburner.... well 1 of the 2 nozzles... Propane tank was freezing up by this point, so turbine speed is pretty low. It's a start though![ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikdqM29n2cM[/ame]----------MM180Lincoln PrecisionTig 225Hypertherm PM45Dyn 200dx
Reply:This is pretty fantastic. I do wonder what the neighbors think, and also when the cops will show up.
Reply:how's your hearing?HOW'S YOUR HEARING?Blackbird
Reply:You're finally getting the turbine housing glowing.  That means you're approaching the max performance of the unit.
Reply:Didn't even notice the turbine housing glowing until you pointed it out.  Interestingly, the faster its running, the lower the EGT. Guessing the flame front retreats into the combustion chamber at higher boost pressures. The propane tank was just a ball of ice when i shot that one, so getting enough gas without a water bath was getting tough.----------MM180Lincoln PrecisionTig 225Hypertherm PM45Dyn 200dx
Reply:Put the propane tank in a tub of water and toss some beers in around it.  It will chill the beers very quickly.