TBMA-230 Oxy/Propylene Piston Hybrid
Posted: Sat Oct 02, 2010 1:31 pm
TBMA-230 - Thermobaric Mass Accelerator, 230in<sup>3</sup>
This launcher is nearing completion, so I decided to start a new thread with all the up to date pictures and videos in the first post. It functions near flawlessly with compressed air as the oxidizer supply, but air/O<sub>2</sub> mixtures have been causing some issues. Hopefully the addition of more robust ball valves to the chamber volume isolation system has solved these issues.
Specifications
Launcher Configuration: Over/Under
Chamber: Galvanized steel/malleable iron construction, 2.067" inside diameter, ~25" length, 85in<sup>3</sup> volume
Barrel: Solid core ABS construction, 1.6" inside diameter, 72" length, 145in<sup>3</sup> volume
Valve: 1.6" porting piston valve with o-ring sealed steel piston and spool valve venting system
Loading: 2" Aluminum cam-lock fittings
Fueling Setup: Volumetric meter w/integrated air and oxygen fill ports (Air through meter design), 3000PSI rated steel meter isolation ball valve
Fuel: Onboard propylene cylinder
Oxidizer: Compressed air, onboard oxygen, or any combination thereof
Ignition: 12kV HV power supply with dual ignition safety switches and LED indicators, homemade 1/8" NPT spark plug
Venting: Pressurized air exhausting system w/3000PSI rated steel chamber ball valve
Mixes attempted: 5x - 11x air/propane, 14.7PSI O<sub>2</sub>/14.7PSI air/28.2% propylene
Estimated Performance: 3500ft-lbs energy, 800FPS for a 160g D cell round @ 6x air/propane; ~4000ft-lbs energy, >850FPS for the same round @ 14.7PSI O<sub>2</sub>/14.7PSI air/28.2% propylene
EDIT: New pictures are up.
As you wish...SpudFarm wrote:I really want more videos of this launcher, it deserves it's own thread with only pictures and videos..
This launcher is nearing completion, so I decided to start a new thread with all the up to date pictures and videos in the first post. It functions near flawlessly with compressed air as the oxidizer supply, but air/O<sub>2</sub> mixtures have been causing some issues. Hopefully the addition of more robust ball valves to the chamber volume isolation system has solved these issues.
Specifications
Launcher Configuration: Over/Under
Chamber: Galvanized steel/malleable iron construction, 2.067" inside diameter, ~25" length, 85in<sup>3</sup> volume
Barrel: Solid core ABS construction, 1.6" inside diameter, 72" length, 145in<sup>3</sup> volume
Valve: 1.6" porting piston valve with o-ring sealed steel piston and spool valve venting system
Loading: 2" Aluminum cam-lock fittings
Fueling Setup: Volumetric meter w/integrated air and oxygen fill ports (Air through meter design), 3000PSI rated steel meter isolation ball valve
Fuel: Onboard propylene cylinder
Oxidizer: Compressed air, onboard oxygen, or any combination thereof
Ignition: 12kV HV power supply with dual ignition safety switches and LED indicators, homemade 1/8" NPT spark plug
Venting: Pressurized air exhausting system w/3000PSI rated steel chamber ball valve
Mixes attempted: 5x - 11x air/propane, 14.7PSI O<sub>2</sub>/14.7PSI air/28.2% propylene
Estimated Performance: 3500ft-lbs energy, 800FPS for a 160g D cell round @ 6x air/propane; ~4000ft-lbs energy, >850FPS for the same round @ 14.7PSI O<sub>2</sub>/14.7PSI air/28.2% propylene
EDIT: New pictures are up.