Water flow and pressure to fly

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the water flow and pressure required to achieve thrust for flight. Charlie outlines a simple thrust equation: Thrust = mass flow * velocity of exit. For a weight of 70 kg, a flow rate of 10 kg/s requires a velocity of 68.6 m/s to generate 686N of lift. The key takeaway is the importance of selecting an appropriate pump and tubing to achieve the desired flow rates and velocities, along with the need for flexible components to vector the thrust effectively.

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  • Understanding of basic fluid dynamics principles
  • Knowledge of thrust equations and calculations
  • Familiarity with pump specifications and flow rates
  • Experience with flexible tubing and its applications in fluid systems
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  • Learn about fluid dynamics and thrust calculations in detail
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Aerospace enthusiasts, engineers, and hobbyists interested in building water-powered thrust systems or exploring fluid dynamics applications.

charlieaf92
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Hi guys. I'll start out by admitting that I know very little about fluid dynamics, physics, etc. I've been searching the forums and a bit surprised that this particular topic hasn't come up (unless I just missed it). Has anyone here seen this? Would anyone mind pointing me in the right direction to calculate the volume (and pressure?) of water necessary to make it happen?



Any help would be appreciated. I am going to build one in my garage.

Thanks
Charlie
 
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Simple thrust equation.

Thrust = mass flow * velocity of exit.

So let's say you are 70 kg. Thats 686N needed to lift you. You have a pipe that can flow 10kg/s of water. 686/10=68.6m/s flow.

Or you could have 20kg/s at 34.3m/s etc etc.

Question is just speccing a pump and tubing that will allow you to do this. You'll also want something flexible to allow you to vector the thust.
 

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