Project help needed- Turbine engine

RDF · 2007-09-16T19:18:18+00:00

Hey Guys, Fall is here and the drag engines are coming in for freshening and all. Needless to say, all the client's free cash is not being spent until Tax returns hit the mail so I am starting my project that has been a "to-do" for a while but I am in need of some subject matter experts or someone who has military or civilian turbine engine experience. I started this last year and it's been in the corner of one of the buildings. I am building a golf cart with a small turbine engine from an GSU/Huffer and I am not at all familiar with this platform. I totally understand the dangers involved. I want to convert from shaft drive to thrust with afterburner for show only (This is not the cart that pulls my dragster around from the pits and shutdown lane!) It will be painted and marked up identical to my puller but only powered by a rear mounted small turbine (Sun Solar or similar powerplant) This will not be shot down the track it's for show only(fire show and noise, minimal forward propulsion). I am pulling the engine and fuel tank to make room for the batteries and fuel cell and pumps. I will be putting Wilwood brakes on all four wheels and a weight box in front as well as a spare halon system from one of my wrecked cars (A few died this season) I will be fabricating the mounts out of moly and box tube (I have a good chassis welder- she is one of the best I have seen) That part is tackled. The engine is not. I have sources on buying the engine but do any of you have suggestions on where to look for a "how to" on the operation and thrust conversion for this doohickey? I saw some bar stool with a jet engine but the owner was a total prick and would not help. My friend who raced jet dragsters passed away last year and I am full of inspiration but I don't want to make an IED on accident. I will also be building a test stand for this. I see them on several projects via Google but no info. Any clues gents? Also any resources on finding a cheaper powerplant...

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F. George McDuffee 18 years ago

After some additional thought, and you needed vehicle performace, you might just leave the golf cart stock and hang on some sort of loud flame and smoke generator for the sound and light show.

Several sites show a surplus auto or diesel turbo unit pumbed into a combustion chamber that seems to generate plenty of both, although down on the thrust. More than likely you have a suitable turbo on hand.

The only real problem I see is the oil supply.

Some stainless steel tubing, a little welding, salvaged fuel injector system [like a k-jetronic], a spark plug/coil, and an battary operated oil pump/sump and you should be good to go. You may also need an electric or air drill to spin the turbine up for starting. Notch the exhaust section like a whistle or organ pipe for even more sound output.

The people will love it.

Even better if you run it on peanut oil....

Unka' George [George McDuffee] ============ Merchants have no country. The mere spot they stand on does not constitute so strong an attachment as that from which they draw their gains.

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), U.S. president. Letter, 17 March 1814.

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Trevor Jones 18 years ago

Saw a go-cart with a turbine similar to that on it at the school I went to. They were taking off the power with another turbo , with a pto shaft on it, to run the cart.

They had a pretty slick electronic controller set up to manage fuel delivery, as well as the start cycle.

They had a hard time keeping it running, for some reason, but it was fast while it went. :-)

Cheers Trevor Jones

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Gunner Asch 18 years ago

Way Cool!

See...not useless.

Gunner

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Bruce L. Bergman 18 years ago

That would work nicely if you can match the APU Generator voltage with an oversized electric drive motor on the golf cart and a seriously stout rear end with a Locker or spool - pass it the amps and you'll boil the rear tires in a heartbeat. The flames are for show anyway.

Jay Leno's already got a turbine powered motorcycle - He says the hardest thing is getting used to the extreme lag on both throttle application and removal.

turbine-electric

successful. It

packages such as steam

The Union Pacific tried this in the 1950's and 60's in the southwest with the "Big Blow" and "Veranda" 4,500 HP gas turbine, and it worked nicely in pulling huge trains with only one or two locomotives - but for the fuel efficiency. And engine wear from running on heated Bunker C. And the ear-splitting noise while coming through the small towns along the route.

And the fact that they goofed up and parked them under a concrete highway overpass a few times with the engines idling - more than once the turbine exhaust melted the asphalt road surface off the bridge deck, which tends to make enemies of the state road dept. folks...

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RDF 18 years ago

I think I found a complete package

formatting link

Thanks for the help!

Rob

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Robert Swinney 18 years ago

Bruise,

My original reference was to a steam-turbine-electric locomotive.

Bob Swinney

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Jon Elson 18 years ago

They show up on eBay regularly. look for "gas turbine", "jet engine", etc. You'll get a ton of toy trucks and locomotives, but there are a bunch of APUs, jet fuel starters, and other small gas turbines from AiResearch, Snecma/CFM, and a few that don't come to mind immediately. They are in the 20-50 Hp range, and can be picked up by one person. Some of them are incredibly small, basically the size of a truck turbocharger with accessories attached. (There are also some larger APU engines, an occasional helicopter engine, and even complete jet engines of various types, mostly VERY old. These don;t show up as often, but if you keep watch, you will see them a few times a year.)

Jon

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