Low-Cost Jet Engine Design as a Basis for Stand-Alone Power Generation

Abstract

The purpose of this project was to model and build a jet engine as an alternative power generation source. Our main goals were the following: create a gas-powered engine that is low-cost, easily maintainable, and robust. This engine can be used to give developing communities, or those in need, access to a reliable source of electricity, with the aim of providing a power source capable of running appliances required for servicing basic needs.

The jet engine can be subdivided into three major parts: the compressor, the combustor, and the turbine. The compressor and turbine were implemented using a turbocharger from a 1987 Toyota Supra. The combustor was completely designed and manufactured by hand, and was created using a multi-step, iterative process. When put together, these three sub-components make up the jet engine, which can be modeled by the Brayton cycle. Running on propane fuel, the engine creates useful work out of the chemical energy of the propane. The estimated power output is 2kWs when the engine is self-sustaining in steady state.

The process of building the jet engine took place in several phases, the first of which being the theoretical analysis of the thermodynamics of the engine to determine the feasibility of this project and our goals. Design research was pertinent to the completion of this project, with which the total cost of the engine was limited to \$1750, maintaining our vision for an inexpensive generator. The manufacturing process proved the most difficult, but in short, our final design helped realize the attainability of a modular jet engine with our design goals. With further research and development, the vision behind this project can be refined and fully obtained.