[AR] Re: Engine vs Test Stand
- From: Henry Spencer <hspencer@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: Arocket List <arocket@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 26 Mar 2021 16:57:57 -0400 (EDT)
On Fri, 26 Mar 2021, JAMES ROSSON wrote:
Making the metal hardware for test stand is not hard. The challenge is
sensor, designing in mechanical overload protection for sensor,
heat/blast protection, calibration of sensor & data acquisition
software. Might even have to write some code? Hardest part about motor
test stand, is you need to find a way to TEST the test stand, BEFORE you
commit your expensive motor to testing.
You can test substantial parts of it by firing an HPR solid motor or two
in it. This will check out some of the sensors and data acquisition, most
of the safety, relations with neighbors and local fire marshal :-), etc.
The one big part of a liquid test stand that this won't test, is the
*plumbing* -- another big challenge, and rather harder than it looks.
Consider building a small, cheap, quick-and-dirty engine -- just something
that will inject propellants, burn them, and run the result through a
nozzle -- using off-the-shelf plumbing parts as much as possible. This is
likely to be a much more educational experience than you expect :-), and
will let you check out plumbing and procedures before you test your dream
engine.
Henry
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