If you have ever wondered how to build your very own jetpack, Valve engineer Ben Krasnow has created a video documenting how he created an awesome mini rocket engine using acrylic and gaseous oxygen. Watch the video after the jump to learn more about the hybrid mini rocket engine project and see it in action.
A hybrid rocket engine uses two fuels in two different states, and in this build uses a solid fuel which is controlled by a flow of oxygen, creating the burn rate. Enabling the rocket to be throttled up and down.
“I built a small rocket engine for demonstration purposes. The engine is built from a 2″ diameter acrylic rod through which I drilled a 0.5″ hole. The oxygen at 80 psi or less is passed through the hole and then is forced through a convergent-divergent nozzle at the tail end. The nozzle’s throat is about 0.25″ and expands to 0.625”.
I lit the engine by inserting a burning cotton swab (with wooden stick) while a small amount of oxygen was flowing. The acrylic catches fire very easily in a pure oxygen environment. The engine can be throttled and shut off completely, which is a major benefit to hybrid engine designs. Solid-fuel rockets cannot be throttled or shut off, which makes them difficult to control.”
For more information jump over to the Ben Krasnow website, to view other projects as well.
Source: Gizmodo
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