Kamps DIY Jet Engine Running on Kerosene - First Test

This is the first test of my setup for running my home made gas turbine on liquid fuel.
Build log: misterg.org.uk...
Overall, I'm very happy with the setup.
(Yes, I did forget to turn off the starting gas on the first run - what can I say? I was excited!)
Fuel is 28 sec kerosene with 4% TWC-3 oil added for the feed to the bearings.
The fuel pump used is a "J Perkins 12V Electric Glow Fuel Transfer Pump".
www.jperkins.c...
It is a positive displacement, gear pump, but there is enough back-leakage in it that it will run against a closed line. It will still develop well over 1 bar fuel pressure though. The engine maxed out at 0.6bar with the pump running on 8.4V. It should be capable of fuelling this engine to it's design pressure (0.8 bar) or beyond if run on 12V.
I need to sort out a reliable tachometer before I'd be happy to run the engine any faster.

[@mikeryan3537]

Absolutely awesome, nothing beats the sound of a jet engine spooling up!

[@Mister_G]

Thank you very much! Glad you enjoyed it - it certainly sounds impressive when you're stood next to it.

[@nicolasm7012]

Superb construction. The engine seems to run perfectly. Are you going to do thrust measurements? This type of rpm sensor hates sunlight. You can also use motor control electronics like the Xicoy. This is what I did on my fd3/64 at the end of construction.

[@Mister_G]

Thank you very much! :) I'm very, very pleased with how it runs. I do intend to try and measure the thrust now that I've proved that the setup works on kerosene. I will try and improve the optical RPM sensor, but if that doesn't work, I might try a hall effect sensor. It was seeing pictures of the FD3/64 back in the 1990s that first put the idea of building a jet engine into my head, but it had to wait until recently before I had the time / equipment to do it. I don't think I'm going to go down the ECU route (like Xicoy, etc.) - I think I would need to add quite a few parts to make this worthwhile (like an ignitor, EGT probe, electric start, etc.). Thanks for the comment :)

[@MrCzarnm]

​@@Mister_G I'm using german Projet ECU there is a sensor board SA130 which fits engines of diameter 110-120 mm. Great work.

[@Mister_G]

@@MrCzarnm Thank you, I will look it up - Since my earlier reply, I have found that there is an Arduino ECU, which has started me thinking... 😄

[@AngryHybridApe]

Fantastic!! +#&$_?! tachometer$#+&😡 I would have liked to seen the thrust output on it. But I'm going to assume its pretty good. Of all the DIY turbojet engines, this is the best. And I seen a few. Good job.👍

[@Mister_G]

Wow, thank you very much! Next on the list is to measure thrust. 👍

[@resgatemusical.2070]

what is the fuel consumption?

[@Mister_G]

Hi, I haven't measured it - the whole video was on the same tank of fuel. I am close to having it up and running again to try and measure the thrust, etc. I think that will give a better idea of fuel consumption too.

[@EnglishTurbines]

Sounds good. My first Gas Turbine was the Shreckling, came out just before the Kamps engine....Restricted by its plywood compressor which was very effective at lower rpms.....My flying engine is my MW54, built from the drawings...Inconel combustor is improved and modified to include an internal vapourisor ring which also serves to prevent stick drift...It glows bright orange, even at idle....Inconel, of course...😏🇬🇧

[@Mister_G]

@@EnglishTurbines Thank you. The Schreckling was the first to catch my attention, back in the 1990s sometime. I still have a hankering to try and build one as I think it was a pioneering design (hopelessly out of date now though).

[@EnglishTurbines]

@@Mister_G Yes, the closed face or covered compressor is unique in its design and actually makes it very efficient at low speeds in particular. Difficult to reproduce in metal though...🤔😳🇬🇧

[@yousefashry2126]

sir do you have the link for buying all of the things required to build this project, including the guage pressure meter and the ecu?

[@Mister_G]

Hi, the pressure gauge can be got anywhere (ebay). There is no ECU - just manual control. Most of the stainless steel came from M-Machine in the UK - www.m-machine-metals.co.uk/ the other bits (including the compressor wheel) from ebay. There's a detailed description of what is needed in the book (have a look at my website for details - link in description). Thanks for watching! :)

[@BigChuck_1]

Amazing stuff; Of course you have now seen how poorly optical tachometers work in full sunlight. Stupid question #1: Is there any way to incorporate a small pilot shaft that would protrude out of the intake so you can place the tach 90deg to the target ?? Stupid Question #2: Is there anywhere in the system to place a simple optical encoder disk setup to measure RPM. Stupid Question Finale: Can you measure RPM directly with a mechanical contact style device that would measure mechanically directly from the motor shaft from the intake side? ❓ I’m with you, I want to know how fast you are spinning that thing. 🧐 It reminds me very much of the engine can of that first German Jet Fighter.

[@Mister_G]

Thank you very much for the comment - I'm glad you liked it :) The nose of the spinner nut does stick out of the intake, but it's obviously a tapered section, so tends to reflect the light at an angle, and the tacho did work OK on my first test. There is a hole through it that I could use for an "interrupted beam" type sensor, but I'd need a different meter to measure the RPM (it would give two pulses per rev, rather than one which would mean my current (100k RPM) meter would read double the speed and so max out at a real 50k RPM). I could remake the nut with a parallel section, it's not something that had ocurred to me, so thanks for the suggestion. I think a few people have embedded an optical sensor behind the compressor wheel. It's another option I'm considering. If I can't improve the optical system, I think I'll try a hall effect sensor with a small ring magnet inside the spinner nut - I know that others have done this successfully. It would be really useful to have an RPM reading permanently available. I'm not sure I fancy my chances trying to use a mechanical contact tach at ~80kRPM 😄. No such thing as a stupid question, just stupid answers^ 😉. Thanks again.

[@sweetgumnyc7794]

where would one find plans and build instructions for this engine? better yet, i feel a little intimidated with the idea of jumping into a straight build without having ever owned a turbine in order to understand the fabrication and operation so maybe someone sells a kit i could buy so that i can become familiar before jumping into my own full fabrication? i think that might be ideal. any advice would be appreciated .

[@Mister_G]

Get hold of 'Model Jet Engines' by Thomas Kamps - it has plans and build instructions for this engine. www.sarikhobbies.com/product/model-jet-engines-3rd-edition-by-thomas-kamps/

[@sweetgumnyc7794]

so you think its feasible to build one from scratch without having built a kit owned a factory built engine? @@Mister_G

[@sweetgumnyc7794]

is this the KJ-66? @@Mister_G

[@Mister_G]

@@sweetgumnyc7794 No, the Kamps engine.

[@processagent5095]

Impressive work. I have a similar tach. It came with reflective tape. If you stick a small piece on the shaft or whatever and make that your target it'll work quite well.

[@Mister_G]

Thank you very much! 😊 I have the retro-reflective tape, but I was/am worried about whether it would stay on at tens of thousands of RPM, and what damage it might to to the compressor if/when it came off. I will have to do some experimenting.

[@merxellus1456]

​@@Mister_G Perhaps paint the compressor tips abit?

[@Mister_G]

@@merxellus1456 Hi - I did try blackening part of the compressor, but it didn't work properly in bright sunlight. I have a Hall effect tacho now - just need to fit it and run the engine again.

[@aspboss1973]

Is possible to connect with you? I do have issues with my engine. Would love to hear your advice..

[@Mister_G]

Sure - send me a message via my website: misterg.org.uk/send-me-a-message/ If I can help, I will :)

[@aspboss1973]

@@Mister_G thank you, I have send the message!

[@Mister_G]

@@aspboss1973 I have replied :)

[@saidyabdallah8810]

👍

[@Mister_G]

Thanks for watching! 👍

[@MarcoFormentin]

Hi, great job, I'm trying to build one, I have a question... how many ml/min of oil mixed with kerosene should go through the lube line? For example at maximum power I read about 5 ml per minute but I'm not sure this is correct.

[@Mister_G]

Thanks! 😊. The figure I worked to was ~1% of the fuel flow should go as lube. I guess that the maximum fuel flow is of the order of 250ml/minute, so 1% would be 2.5ml/min - in the same ball park as your 5ml/min. I fitted a 0.4mm ID x 25mm long needle in the lube line as recommended in the book. By Poiseuilles formula, it **should** give ~1% flow when fed at the same pressure as the 6 off fuel injectors that are 0.6mm ID x 50mm long. A little bit too much is probably a lot better than not quite enough.

[@MarcoFormentin]

@@Mister_G Thanks for the answer, very comprehensive. I still have a doubt about the bearing seat. The bearings have a diameter of 22 mm, the front one is planted in the seat, while the rear one is free to slide due to the pre-load of the spring. Could you give me an idea of ​​the tolerances? For example, the bearings have a diameter of 22mm, the front seat must be 22mm + 0.01? While the rear must have a seat of 22 + 0.02 to slide? What tolerances did you adopt?

[@Mister_G]

@@MarcoFormentin No problem. I'm a hobby machinist, so usually work to make things fit, rather than machining everything to a tolerance. I do know, however, that +0.01will give a loose fit and is far too big for either bearing. If you need tolerances, someone like SKF has technical data that will give the required tolerances for the bearing housing - they will be in microns for this size of bearing (maybe something like -0.001 / +0.003). The rear bearing only just needs to slide - better described as a loose press fit, rather than a sliding fit - bear in mind that the fit will loosen as the shaft tunnel heats up in use. If you're machining them yourself, just creep up on the size and test for fit.

[@MarcoFormentin]

@@Mister_G Everything is very clear, thanks, yes I spelled it wrong, the tolerance would be +0.001. I have one last question, it's about the tree tunnel. Did you use simple aluminum or some particular alloy, such as duralumin?

[@Mister_G]

@@MarcoFormentin I'm pretty sure it was one of the 6XXX alloys (maybe 6082). I don't believe it's critical, so any of the 6XXX or 2XXX alloys should be OK.

[@alwinbernat4067]

Sir will u please share the drawing of this project so that I can make myself and I do have to ask several questions regarding combustion chamber. Could you please share your mail id or something that I can contact you

[@Mister_G]

Hi, the drawings are all in Thomas Kamps' book: www.sarikhobbies.com/product/model-jet-engines-3rd-edition-by-thomas-kamps/ You can contact me through my web site if you wish (link in description). Thanks for watching 🙂

[@alwinbernat4067]

@@Mister_G thank you so much for your response

[@rawandgaming7113]

bro 1 question? your jet max power thrust?

[@Mister_G]

Ha ha - I do not know the answer to that question yet. It is something for the next run. Thanks for watching. 🙂

[@rawandgaming7113]

@@Mister_G good job bro💙

[@Mister_G]

@@rawandgaming7113 Thank you!

[@nicolasm7012]

I'm still waiting for the trust tests. 😁

[@Mister_G]

Soon, soon! 😁 I'll be back on this project shortly.

[@Jan_Seidel]

Works like a charm

[@Mister_G]

It does indeed! 😁 Thank you very much!

[@MiniTStark]

Very nice/clean cut piece of machinery

[@Mister_G]

Thank you very much! 😁

[@عبداللهمحمود-خ8ق9ظ]

جميل جدا تجربة رائعة

[@Mister_G]

Thank you! شكراً جزيلاً

[@TeamRCHyderabad]

Nice running engine.

[@Mister_G]

Thank you very much, indeed - I'm very pleased with it 😀

[@nick1bb1]

Fantastic job!! 😀

[@Mister_G]

Thank you very much indeed! Glad you liked it :)

[@bruktilahun232]

Loved it

[@Mister_G]

Thank you very much! I'll hopefully be back on this shortly.

[@nurmogati6414]

U haven't put the paper 2 calculate rpm yet... On 1 blade of billet compressor yet...

[@Mister_G]

Not yet, but close... :) I have another project to finish, then I will get back to it.

[@siggyretburns7523]

I just watxhed all 3 videos. You get an A on the 1st. A on the 2nd. B on the last one. The techo was to blame. But because of that, the final phase of opening it up with the tail piece on was incomplete.. This is the first time I've seen a small turbo jet engine built from the ground up, tested the fuels, and ran it. I was especially impressed on the start up. Vertually no delays. I bet you were happy about that. Extremely good job. 👍

[@Mister_G]

Thank you very much! Yes, I'm *very* happy with how it runs - I couldn't quite believe it when it first started up. I haven't finished yet, though. I'll be back on this project soon 🙂

[@tamashamas6193]

Phenomenal build, can only imagine how much experience you must have with various manfuctauring methods to have made such a beauty

[@Mister_G]

Thanks very much!

[@YOUTUBE.COM.EZEQUIELRF32CNC]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 Top friend congratulations I'm building one too from scratch!

[@Mister_G]

Thank you! Looking forward to seeing your build. (Just looking at your channel - I am making a CNC now 😂)

[@YOUTUBE.COM.EZEQUIELRF32CNC]

@@Mister_G then yes huh 😃🤝 soon my CNC will be ready let's do a lot of projects thank you very much friend for the support too