Good luck on the aluminum engines! I know that this is a stumbling block for many designs, and would be a great step ahead in engine design and fabrication!
Quote from: Swatch on 05/21/2009 01:49 amGood luck on the aluminum engines! I know that this is a stumbling block for many designs, and would be a great step ahead in engine design and fabrication!Well, we have a second aluminum engine that we can modify if this one doesn't quite make it. But there's historical precedent with both the Bell Agena engine, and an engine done by the Swiss Propulsion Lab that was of very similar construction to the one we'll be testing. The SPL engine was about the same thrust level, and about 50% higher pressure. So hopefully we're golden.For the other manufacturing process, if we can make the process work reliably, it should be much easier to make the thermal part of the design work reliably (even at much higher pressure than we'll ever be screwing with).~Jon
Just got back from firing the aluminum engine (should we call it the "Aluminum Falcon"?) 7 times.
Just got back from firing the aluminum engine (should we call it the "Aluminum Falcon"?) 7 times. Max duration was 21 seconds, and it looks like we may have steady stated. Not out of the woods yet, but things look very promising. ~Jon
Quote from: jongoff on 05/21/2009 09:39 pmJust got back from firing the aluminum engine (should we call it the "Aluminum Falcon"?) 7 times. Max duration was 21 seconds, and it looks like we may have steady stated. Not out of the woods yet, but things look very promising. ~JonGotta "Han" it to you (yes, I know it's not a "Solo" effort, but still ...) -- promising indeed!
Bonus points for anyone who recognizes the Star Wars parody that name comes from.~Jon
Quote from: jongoff on 05/22/2009 05:47 amBonus points for anyone who recognizes the Star Wars parody that name comes from.~JonWTH is an aluminum falcon?
Quote from: jongoff on 05/21/2009 09:39 pmJust got back from firing the aluminum engine (should we call it the "Aluminum Falcon"?) 7 times. Max duration was 21 seconds, and it looks like we may have steady stated. Not out of the woods yet, but things look very promising. ~JonFinally getting around to these other threads ( so much in so little time), and found a new engine builder. An aluminum engine design, that's just too cool. Of couse, that's one of the benefits of using aluminum over stainless/exotic alloy: a great heat conductor. So with regen, all that heat is just soaked away. Neat.If they ever design a medical frigate...lol
Quote from: kch on 05/22/2009 02:35 amQuote from: jongoff on 05/21/2009 09:39 pmJust got back from firing the aluminum engine (should we call it the "Aluminum Falcon"?) 7 times. Max duration was 21 seconds, and it looks like we may have steady stated. Not out of the woods yet, but things look very promising. ~JonGotta "Han" it to you (yes, I know it's not a "Solo" effort, but still ...) -- promising indeed! Bonus points for anyone who recognizes the Star Wars parody that name comes from.~Jon
Quote from: jongoff on 05/22/2009 05:47 amQuote from: kch on 05/22/2009 02:35 amQuote from: jongoff on 05/21/2009 09:39 pmJust got back from firing the aluminum engine (should we call it the "Aluminum Falcon"?) 7 times. Max duration was 21 seconds, and it looks like we may have steady stated. Not out of the woods yet, but things look very promising. ~JonGotta "Han" it to you (yes, I know it's not a "Solo" effort, but still ...) -- promising indeed! Bonus points for anyone who recognizes the Star Wars parody that name comes from.~JonThat would have to be the Aluminium Falcon, with a brit accent....
Of course, there's more aluminu... alumini... - oh, heck, Al - in a Pegasus motor than in one of Dave an Jon's engines... (hint: this is a trick question ).