Mythbusters Blackpowder Engine Challenge

Fully Operational Test Footage
of small engine running on
blackpowder fuel log

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Mythbusters
• black
• powder
• engine
• test
• experiment
• science
• rocket
• propellant
• alternative
• fuel

[normellow]

I came up with this idea a long time ago. I also used water to filter out all the carbon build up.

[CharlieMacklin1]

@normellow cool :) In the video, the test run did not have a water filter... i didn't want to add confusion as far as possible steam production... but yes, a water filter would probably help with carbon build up. Did you ever get a running prototype? If so, definitely post a video... strength in numbers. Black Powder Engines Unite !

[CharlieMacklin1]

@normellow ... Saw your video... I bet I know where you came up with the idea for a water filter :D

[14omega28ok]

@CharlieMacklin1 It can be ran off of Steam, Compressed air, or any gas you can find that has enough force to push down the piston. You can run a Steam engine on compressed air and run a "Pneumatic" Engine on steam. You can run this engine on steam/compressed air. This is a Steam Engine. Simple fact is compressed air (Whether it be from Black powder, Boiler, Or air compressor) is what makes this machine work. and any machine that runs on compressed air is in fact a steam Engine.

[CharlieMacklin1]

@Ebbtide007 Thanks



[CharlieMacklin1]

@14omega28ok Usually an engine is named by its means of operation / fuel, for example, a gasoline engine, diesel engine, a steam engine, a pneumatic engine, etc etc. Since this one runs on directly on blackpowder, one would call it a .... hmm, lets see...

[14omega28ok]

@CharlieMacklin1 Steam Engine is a Steam Engine, The boiler does not make it a "Steam Engine" This is in fact a Steam Engine

[CharlieMacklin1]

@rich1051414 I agree. The Tesla turbine would definitely be easier to clean. I tried the slow burning black powder, bound in a tube, to drive a turbocharger. It seemed to produce plenty of heat, but a whole bunch of "gunk", and without a high enough flow rate of gases to spool up the turbo.  Perhaps it would work if the combustion gases were focused through nozzles, as in the Tesla turbine, or an impulse turbine.

[CharlieMacklin1]

@kidddogbites hmm :) well that does sound a bit tricky, I doubt she would run for very long lol

[rich1051414]

this would be so much easier to build if you used gunpowder to drive a tesla style turbine, and much more reliable and easy to maintain :)