Beer Can Jet Engine: Mark II by LetsBuildOne
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THIS INSTRUCTABLE IS NOT FINISHED, I HAVE SOME VIDEOS TO UPLOAD YET. SUBSCRIBE FOR UPDATES.

LBO
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This is the new and improved version of my Mark I Origional Beer Can Jet Engine. It has a far more severe throat in the air intake to aid compression, a new power suply that is variable and works of mains electricity (instead of a complex power pack) and an inline fuel injection system that opposes the direction of air to improve the fuel-air mixture.

The results were mixed, it wasnt the massive improvement in performance i was expecting but i am pleased that it wasnt a complete failure, i have learned alot about the construction and opperation during my investigation and experimentation and hopefully in the Mark III Engine the culmination of the two builds with result in one engine of definably superior performance.

Visit my website for more information and other similar builds: Letsbuildone.110mb.com
 
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Step 1: Gather the materials and tools you will need

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Materials Required:
@ At least 4 Steel cans, specifically the taller ones and bigger ones are better.
@ Copper tubing, i used half inch diameter plumbing tubing i had in the garage for its rigidity as this will hold your engine together.
@ Some flexible plastic fuel hosing long enough for you to be comfortably far enough from a running miniature jet engine, 3m did me, I got some from my local model shop used for nitro cars.
@ An old hair dryer or other air moving device, leaf blower could work, or a ducted fan/propeller.
@ A variable resistor or potentiometer, I used a dimmer switch of a house light switch in series with the mains power pack.
@ A length of wire as long as your rubber hosing at least, two wires needed to power electric motor for your fan.
@ Really small drill bits and a drill, 1mm or less for fuel nozzles.
@ Tape, adhesives and solder would be helpful.
@ Insulation tape
@A solid piece of aluminium at least 2.5cm diameter, cylindrical, aluminium to save weight and you want it to be up to say around 10cm long to improve fluid dynamics and less than around 5cm diameter. this will be the fuel injector and it will also double up to throttle the air flow to increase compression.

Tools Required:
@ Sand Paper, to smooth and remove paint.
@ Soldering Iron possibly to solder the powerpack.
@ Possibly a screw driver for any choca blocks.
@ Drill to drill fuel nossles with.
@ Sharp knife for cutting cans, tape and general use.
@ Scissors for cans tape and general use.
@ Pliers
@ Relevant Safety equipment, gloves, goggles, fire extinguisher and COMMON SENSE.
@Laithe to turn the aluminium. you may be able to use a clamped drill but be very carefull and use your college or schools laithe if possable as then you can be supervised by trained staff while it is in use.
@Assorted cutting bits, files, wire brushes, and other abrasives to
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Matt428 says: Apr 16, 2013. 4:24 PM
On the title, it is supposed to be spelled mach II, not mark II
SkeptiCol says: Jan 1, 2013. 4:05 PM
I'm not sure if it's something Intructables are doing, or how this was loaded, but I am having trouble following as all the photo's are at the start and all the text at the end. My brain is having trouble matching the pics to the steps.
LetsBuildOne (author) says: Jan 1, 2013. 4:12 PM
Yeah this is new, It didn't always look like this. In future Instructables I'll make loads of little steps instead.
agm510 says: Sep 5, 2012. 9:01 PM
What did you use as a fuel
LetsBuildOne (author) says: Sep 5, 2012. 10:28 PM
Butane lighter refills. They come pressurised and don't require a regulator. I also tried petrel but it doesn't have atomising fuel nozzles.
Verstrent says: May 8, 2012. 11:08 PM
Can i use it for flying project such as flight shoes?
LetsBuildOne (author) says: May 9, 2012. 2:07 AM
Flying projects should be fine though I would need more information to say if they would be ok for 'flight shoes'. Just in case it was you're plan, it is not gradable that these engines could lift themselves vertically let alone a person aswell.
Verstrent says: May 8, 2012. 11:23 PM
if flying shoes sucesses, i could fly around the world
rayabel says: Dec 4, 2011. 7:59 AM
Please take several photos and decide if you need to take more photos until you get a focused photo.

Other than that, cool engine.
LetsBuildOne (author) says: Dec 19, 2011. 11:28 AM
The engine doesn't exist any more and the photo's taken weren't for instructable use. They were mainly for posterity. In future I will make sure I get high resolution, focused photographs in future though. Thanks for the feedback.
avionic modelisme says: Apr 17, 2012. 8:38 AM
Hi,
I am from india and made an rc plane in brussels, I make rc planes, rc trucks, rc sidecar and rc speed boats I wanted to make something new so i thought to make an jet engine. Can you please tell me how to build it , Can I use iron (mosquito spray )cans, I used a hairdryer deduct fan and a rc helicopter motor.Can you tell me the what to do in the step 5 (fuel injectors).Please reply me as fasty you can . Please please please help help me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LetsBuildOne (author) says: Apr 17, 2012. 11:05 AM
Try the fuel ring from my Mark I engine: http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Origional-Beer-Can-Jet-Engine/

The ducted fan and heli motor will work great. so will the mosquito can. make sure it is COMPLETELY empty before you think about opining it though and wash it thoroughly as the contents were poisonous.

Good luck :)
avionic modelisme says: Apr 18, 2012. 7:48 AM
Hi,
Thanks for a quick reply.About your engine my friend (the one who helped me in my projects and the owner of avionic modelsime in brussels www.shop.avionic.be) sebastien maes thinks that the engine may burst on this temp. after a few seconds.And about the hairdryer fan he said it wont work . He told me to use a stainless steel can.And to use an edf fan.About the fuel it may explode so we may use kerosene. He told me that he can ask anyone to make an lathe fuel injector.He want the plans for it can you send me them on my email- singhadityapartap4@gmail.com , and if you want to make an engine which may produce a lot of thrust and work for a lot of time you can follow these steps :) Can you please send me some pdf on my email as I cannot be a member on this website as my mom won't allow me. :)
avionic modelisme says: Apr 18, 2012. 8:02 AM
Hi,
Won't the iron will melt at higher temp.
avionic modelisme says: Apr 19, 2012. 1:31 AM
please send me pdf and plan for fuel injector
LetsBuildOne (author) says: Apr 19, 2012. 2:14 AM
Iron and steel melt around 1500 dg C but your engine shouldn't melt, Mine didn't. To ensure this, sleeve the combustion chamber in a tube that leaves a gap around the circumference and overhangs the exhaust by a short distance. This will act like a venturi and draw cold ambient air over the hot combustion chamber, cooling it and aging to the engines thrust.

Don't use the fuel injector from this engine, it is heavy and didn't work well. Use the one off the mark I engine. That worked well.

An EDF we will work much better than a hair drier, if you have one, use it.

You can use kerosene but you will need atomising fuel injectors and a fuel pump. This is much more complex than using pre pressurised gaseous butane.

If you still want the CAD I can send it you but the mark I solution is much better.
avionic modelisme says: Apr 19, 2012. 4:15 AM
Hi,
Thanks again for a quick reply.About the fuel injector i will ask Sebastien maes and see what will he say.What can we do to increase the thrust? About the butane gas he said it is dangerous to use it and it may burst and harm us.Can you send me the pdf for this engine? Which engine worked better- mark1 or mark2 ?
LetsBuildOne (author) says: Apr 19, 2012. 9:30 AM
Sleeving the combustion chamber in a second larger tube that overhangs the exhaust will increase thrust as it draws cold air in via the venturi effect, this air is heated while simultaneously cooling the combustion chamber, as the air heats up it expands, as this air is mixed with the exhaust gasses it produces further thrust. This is the same as most modern jumbo jet engines. The majority of the air bypasses the combustion chamber.

You can also increase thrust by increasing the power of the fan, the amount of fuel burnt and the temperature at which it is burnt.

If you use butane you should use a nice long delivery hose. The first time you use it, it will flush the air out of the hose leaving only butane. Without oxygen the butane cannot burn so your butane canister can be remote from your engine and it will be relatively safe to use.

The mark one engine was significantly better than the mark two. Mainly because of the fuel injector, it was heavy and didn't work particularly well.

I am e-mailing you the pdf's now
avionic modelisme says: Apr 20, 2012. 2:16 AM
Hi,
Thanks a lot :):):):):):):)
Wesley666 says: Oct 28, 2011. 8:24 PM
Been working on a jet engine again, its almost done and ready to test. It is a turbofan design, self sustaining, so no electric motor turning the compressor, and I made it from an old computer and a soup can. I used bushing from computer fans instead of bearings, I am hoping they won't melt, they shouldn't but its a possibility. The casing of the computer was steel so I used that to make everything. It was very hard to make 3 turbines that were balanced, but I did it. I am just finishing the combustion chamber and the turbine in the back that drives the compressors in the front. I used a long shaft from a CD drive, it was the shaft for the tray to go in and out on. Will post pictures of it sometime, and will try to video tape me attempting to start it.

Also, whether or not mine works or fails horribly, I had a great idea for the next one. First, I want to make it bigger, easier to work on, second I want 2 to 4 Fuel Injectors from a car that I can use to inject gasoline or other liquid into the combustion chamber and last, I want to get a machine shop to make some parts so they are perfect. I think this would step it up even more and produce something that would work without a problem.
Wesley666 says: Oct 28, 2011. 8:26 PM
As well, a spark plug with a system that continually fires a spark every second or so, to make sure the thing stays lit and I don't have to light it with a torch to begin with.
LetsBuildOne (author) says: Dec 19, 2011. 11:25 AM
I currently have a bag full of fuel injectors, a high pressure pump, coil packs and a spark plug or two for just this purpose. This project is on the back burner for now though as the current project is an electric bike and research into water injection and hydrogen power for internal combustion engines.
Aron313 says: Dec 16, 2011. 2:44 PM
How much thrust?????
LetsBuildOne (author) says: Dec 19, 2011. 11:22 AM
Around a pound or half a kilo.
hayme says: Aug 13, 2011. 12:02 PM
don't call me crazy but if you can make this thing stable and mount it on some kind of hydraulic device and put it on your arm, is it possible that you just have built a jet sword type thing? Tell me the possibilities.
LetsBuildOne (author) says: Aug 13, 2011. 12:41 PM
I suppose so. Especially with petrol as the fuel. Kind of like an arm mounted flame thrower if that's what you wanted.
rabb72994 says: Jul 22, 2011. 1:46 PM
possibly a spent C02 cartridge?
LetsBuildOne (author) says: Jul 23, 2011. 2:42 AM
Yep, that would work.
vernors says: May 18, 2011. 11:23 AM
This is very nice. I'm planning to make a jet engine to, but I'm gonna see if it will be able to sustain its self.
naresh97 says: Feb 21, 2011. 5:33 AM
Hello, I am planning on building this.

Will it work if I used a Desktop Computer Fan instead? I'm not sure, I'll rip out my old desktop soon, I'm not sure it can give enough trust.

What can I use ask the sparker which lights the gas in the compression chamber?
LetsBuildOne (author) says: Feb 21, 2011. 10:19 AM
Hi Naresh,

Sorry but a PC fan won't have enough thrust. You can try over volting a rather powerful one though and see what happens.

There is no sparkler in the combustion chamber, I ignite it with a blowtorch. Now you mention it a sparkler would be perfect. Anything where there is fire on the end of a stick in general.

LBO
naresh97 says: Feb 21, 2011. 2:16 PM
Thanks for the quick reply.
Will this generate enough thrust to push an RC Car or something?

Maybe it would have more thrust if the gas was ignited in the combustion chamber, instead of outside it?
LetsBuildOne (author) says: Feb 21, 2011. 4:12 PM
A small lightweight RC car maybe, you would be better off with an EDF than a PC fan though.

You're right, You'd get more thrust if the combustion was internal. That was one of the short comings of this design. Check out the mark I engine for how to do it more effectively. In a nut shell that aluminium restrictor needs removing.
naresh97 says: Feb 22, 2011. 1:42 AM
Thanks, I'll keep that in mind, but currently I don't think I would be building this, as my main objective is to make something with decent thrust.

I'll try to make a pulsejet engine, do you have any comments on suggestion? My main interest is thrust.
LetsBuildOne (author) says: Feb 22, 2011. 5:13 AM
The Mark 1 Engine produced just under a pound of thrust (half a kilo). A Pulse Jet would have a much higher power to weight ratio than my engines on this scale. I have never built one though so I can't help you much in that department. There are several standard designs you can use that are cheap and easy to make. www.pulse-jets.com is a good place to start.

Good luck


LBO
naresh97 says: Feb 22, 2011. 2:27 PM
Thanks,
I've seen some pictures, the chambers in some large pulsejets can get hot red...
Well, I'll start of with a skateboard rocket. Go to the local skate park and test it out on the ramps... Thanks for all your help.
jegdhfgrbfhf says: Nov 2, 2010. 12:51 AM
This is brilliant,
I'm going to use a s- force fan that spins upto 40,000 rpm and they can lift there self off the ground does anyone have any views on it.
LetsBuildOne (author) says: Nov 2, 2010. 4:49 AM
Aren't they around 48v? If your planning to have it mobile rather than on a static rig you may want to consider how your going to power it. They draw quite a few amps so your battery is going to need to be large and will deplete quickly... Sounds like it would be a beast though!

You may also find that it moves air faster than the burn rate of the fuel so the flame front won't maintain in the combustion chamber so you may need to use a flame tube to slow the airflow from the fan enough to maintain the combustion. This is simply a steel tube you squirt the fuel into with holes around the outside to regulate the air flow. If you google "Flame Tube" you should find several examples.


LBO
jegdhfgrbfhf says: Nov 1, 2010. 12:51 AM
Thanxs again for quick reply and how could I make the jet engine more powerful
so it could push me along and I way 8 stone


regards,
Oliver
LetsBuildOne (author) says: Nov 1, 2010. 4:56 AM
Hi Oliver,

If you made a hovercraft or other low friction rig then that may be possible but this design will not push you on a conventional bike or go-kart, it just doesn't have the power.

To produce more thrust get the biggest most powerful ducted fan you can and then over volt it slightly, usually you are fairly safe up to around 150% normal operating voltage. Do this at your own risk though as there is a possibility you can blow your motor and it will shorten the motor's life span.

You can also Increase the compression ratio by tightening the venturi inlet to squash the air, i.e. make the cone that goes into the combustion chamber longer and thinner. You can also add a thrust augmenter to the exhaust to increase compression. This would essentially be a cone out of the back of the engine.

The last option is to burn more butane using a regulated calor gas canister or several small cans. You could also something that has a higher energy density than butane like petrol, methylated spirits or paraffin. These are liquid fuels though and need to be atomised before combustion so you need to pressurise the fuel and feed it into the engine via a atomising fuel nozzle.

Hope this helps!

LBO
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