I'm interested in building a working model of a turbojet engine, but I don't have a lot of supplies. So I'm wondering if it's possible to use aluminum cans for construction, for every body part. While we're on this topic, would the heat melt the aluminum?
Asked
Active
Viewed 676 times
2
-
2See What material is used to make the hot sections of jet engines?. A model will still have high-temperature and high-pressure areas. – mins Mar 01 '16 at 09:06
-
2There was a junkyard wars episode where a team made a jet engine out of scrap metal, and it worked long enough to win the competition. Pretty epic and worth a look. I don't think aluminum soft drink cans are up to the task but there's other scrap material which could be used. – GdD Mar 01 '16 at 09:09
-
What materials do you recommend? – XTImpossible Mar 01 '16 at 09:13
-
4How about a pulse jet? They're supposedly much simpler to build. http://www.pulsejetengines.com/how-to-make-a-pulse-jet/ – ROIMaison Mar 01 '16 at 09:24
-
@XTImpossible materials should be something with a high melting point. Steel might work for a short period... also suggestion by ROIMaison is a very good one... – Andy Mar 01 '16 at 09:32
-
2Visit a junkyard and find an old turbocharger? – jamesqf Mar 01 '16 at 18:59
-
@ROIMaison Holy smokes, not a single disclaimer on that whole page! Hope the plans have the address of their attorney on them. – TomMcW Mar 01 '16 at 20:41
-
What do you mean? – XTImpossible Mar 02 '16 at 08:22
-
Melt point of aluminum is 660.3 °C – Him Mar 02 '16 at 12:25
-
How are you going to make the axis just from cans? – h22 Mar 02 '16 at 20:51
-
Cut the top and bottom of the can and roll the side up to form a stick? – XTImpossible Mar 02 '16 at 23:06
-
Although i'm generally talking about a small engine the size of a water bottle. I checked the article, I prefer to build a turbojet engine. – XTImpossible Mar 02 '16 at 23:16
-
Maybe a jet engine isn't something that should be built on a whim when short on supplies? Why can't you get actual materials and do it properly? – JustSid Mar 03 '16 at 05:35
-
Because it's more challenging this way. – XTImpossible Mar 03 '16 at 06:56
1 Answers
3
No, you cannot make an entire model jet engine out of aluminium. Most fuels burn at 1000+C and aluminium melts at around 660C: Even if you keep the burning contained in airflow (thus away from the walls) the heat transfer will still damage the aluminium.
You could make the majority of the engine from it, though: Just as long as you find something more suitable for the 'hot' parts.
os1
- 1,560
- 11
- 17
-
1A quick Google search turned up that you can burn an Ethanol-water mixture at 700K (427 degrees C). And you might be able to wrap the fuel supply lines around the combustion chamber to preheat the fuel and simultaneously cool the chamber. Still, that first disk in the turbine will be running hot. – MSalters Mar 08 '16 at 22:49