Isopropanol Rocket Engine

  • Thread starter Mazewind
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  • #1
Mazewind
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Hello, I'm wondering how I could make an isopropyl alcohol rocket engine. Currently I'm testing with plastic bottles, and that's not quite exciting. The alcohol quickly burns out because it is just some vapor in the bottle. There also isn't enough oxidizer, as the bottle quickly fills in with carbon dioxide. I'm wondering when I add a combustion chamber, I'll be using liquid oxygen as my oxidizer. Does anyone know the ratio of liquid oxygen to alcohol to properly produce thrust?
 

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  • #2
DaveE
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Does anyone know the ratio of liquid oxygen to alcohol to properly produce thrust?
If you can't do this chemical calculation yourself, you shouldn't be messing around with LOX.
 
  • #3
Mazewind
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If you can't do this chemical calculation yourself, you shouldn't be messing around with LOX.
Bruh...you're actually right. :L Stoopid me
 
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  • #4
Baluncore
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There also isn't enough oxidizer, as the bottle quickly fills in with carbon dioxide. I'm wondering when I add a combustion chamber, I'll be using liquid oxygen as my oxidizer.
Avoid LOX.
Maybe experiment with compressed air as the oxidiser. Like in the combustor of a jet engine. The hot CO2 and H2O gasses produced in the combustion chamber will exit as the exhaust.
 
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  • #5
berkeman
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Thread closed for Moderation...
 
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  • #6
jrmichler
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There is a lot more to liquid fuel rocket engines than mixing a combustible with an oxidizer in a plastic bottle. While we can help you with specific details, we cannot design it for you. Also, you need to show in your first post that you understand the safety hazards, and are properly dealing with them. Thread will stay closed.
 
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