Micro-Turbojet Engine
This project focuses on the design, build, and testing of a micro-turbojet engine capable of producing 80-100 N of thrust. Based on the KJ66 engine from the late '90s, the BD66 design has been modernized to improve performance, efficiency, and reliability. My work in this project led to opportunities to work on another micro-gas turbine engine as part of Propulsion Design, Build, and Test.
Design and Fabrication of a micro-turbojet engine.
Fully assembled prototype
CAD Sectional
Behind-the-scenes during fabrication
Much of the manufacturing, in addition to my garage, was done at the Bechtel Innovation Design Center. The two videos below are of me cutting a piece of metal using a plasma arc cutter. The manufacturing of the combustion chamber required some intricate welding skills, so I would often practice welding small pieces of metal together.
Laser-cutting the combustion chamber
The video on the left was taken by staff during one of my laser-cutting sessions for fabricating the combustion chamber.
Design Process
The pictures below show the manufactured prototype of the engine. There are a mix of metal and 3-D printed components. These components are used for testing the fit of the components. The final engine will experience upwards of 120,000 rotations per minute, almost 1000 °C of temperature at the turbine section, and pressures of almost 2 times the atmosphere. Therefore, it is imperative that every component is designed to near-perfection and tested rigorously before production.
Propulsion Design-Build Test
Design and fabrication of a micro-gas turbine engine
What started out as a personal project eventually led me to working with Prof. Li Qiao and a team of 9 students to develop a micro-gas turbine engine for use in small UAVs. The final video presentation of this project is linked on the side; please take a look to learn more about my involvement in the turbomachinery team to develop the compressor and turbine stages.
The pictures below show the many team meetings and design reviews, the proposed design and analysis, and fabricated components specifically related to the work of the turbomachinery team.
