Liquid Rocket Engine

[Orion Stellμs]

So I've been putting together plans to build a liquid rocket engine, most likely for a future rocket and would like to put forth a design just so I don't blow my time, money, and energy into something that won't work or will kill me.

 

What I plan to do is have to tanks of fuel, one to hold the oxidizer which will probably be pure oxygen or nitrous oxide, and another to hold the fuel itself, which I've settled with isopropyl or ethyl alcohol. From there I will pressurize the alcohol, and pipe both oxidizer and alcohol through small tubes into the combustion chamber where I predict they will ignite, and fire out of nozzle.

 

So I have a series of questions to make sure I do it right the first time, and stay out of the hospital.

 

1) Will the fuel mixture, when in proper amounts, actually burn with enough energy to propel a rocket?

2) Am I missing any components?

3) What are some possibilities for the components to be made out of? (preferably easy to find in a hardware store or department store)

4) Would the contraption be safe enough?

 

Thanks for the time.

[SMF]

I suggest that you study up on Robert Goddard's work. There are probably some pretty good sources and construction plans for his working rockets. Here is a decent Wikipedia article about him. SM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_H._Goddard#The_.27Goddard_rocket.27

[Aerospace enthusiast]

I think that if you use a strong material your engine will be completely safe and it could be very powerful but I have a suggestion why a liquid engine what I would do is I would make a hybrid with liquid fuel and potassium coloratura as the oxidizer

[Enthalpy]

You didn't mention: pressurize the oxidizer. It's necessary, though.

 

Alcohols are the bad choice. Hydrocarbons are more efficient. Diesel oil or heating oil would be far better in that their vapour doesn't ignite if the liquid is at a reasonable temperature.

 

You don't mention the igniter. In case you imagine contact ignition, just forget it. Keep away from nitrous oxide, as it is a single-component explosive whose detonation has killed a trained professional rocket worker recently.

 

You don't tell how you cool the walls of the combustion chamber.

 

The liquid engine rocket would be very dangerous (a solid one just as badly). From your description, you have zero chance to achieve some propulsion, but every chance to get very badly burnt.