Mini-Turbine

[Rameses]

First video doesn't show much, but the sound's pretty sweet.

Second bike's kinda disappointing in that it's not faster.

Still cool though.







http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0eSGqn2Bl4&feature=rec-HM-rn

[silvy1200]

  so badass!

i use to work with this old dude who put a small turbine into a riding lawnmower. that thing was badass too! it was one of our smaller turbines we used the exhaust to start our bigger turbines.


i would like to see and hear one of these  [moto] i dig cafe bikes, especially with powerplants i know so well 

[Duck-Stew]

Yeah, GREAT!  Another thing I want and don't have time for...  Gee thanks! 

[Munch]

Why mess around?

Jay's:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcGjYog3YGo&feature=related

[Rob Hilding]

Did the guy in the first video just start it up to melt the snow on his driveway

[eichh]

Are the mini turbines homemade or out of something? Does the Y2k work off of thrust or is it somehow a chain drive or direct drive, anyone know?

[MendoDave]

Are the mini turbines homemade or out of something? Does the Y2k work off of thrust or is it somehow a chain drive or direct drive, anyone know?

Naw, Most of those are used for Auxillary Power for something. Like in an airplane. They call em APU's. Its so that you can have Power & air conditioning on the ground without running one of the engines. You probably heard them On the Jetway right before you step onto the plane. That sound like a small Jet engine coming from outside someplace & far away. Thats the APU, mounted usually in the tail, keeping the A/C going ^hopefully & keeping the lights on perhaps. The electric is probably coming from ground power but at some point they need to pull the plug, so thats where the APU comes in.

Oh & without the bleed air coming from the APU, or a start cart, you couldn't get the engines started. Ever notice how the Air conditioning goes out right when they start the first engine on Pushback? They have to turn off The AC packs to get enough air for the air turbine starter. Once two engines are running though there is usually enough air to run everything. That's why the AC starts blowing out those vents over your seat again, and keep blowing while they start the remaining engines.

[Duck-Stew]

You can make a mini-turbine out of a turbo charger...  Or so I've heard...  YMMV

[Jobu]

Naw, Most of those are used for Auxillary Power for something. Like in an airplane. They call em APU's. Its so that you can have Power & air conditioning on the ground without running one of the engines. You probably heard them On the Jetway right before you step onto the plane. That sound like a small Jet engine coming from outside someplace & far away. Thats the APU, mounted usually in the tail, keeping the A/C going ^hopefully & keeping the lights on perhaps. The electric is probably coming from ground power but at some point they need to pull the plug, so thats where the APU comes in.

Oh & without the bleed air coming from the APU, or a start cart, you couldn't get the engines started. Ever notice how the Air conditioning goes out right when they start the first engine on Pushback? They have to turn off The AC packs to get enough air for the air turbine starter. Once two engines are running though there is usually enough air to run everything. That's why the AC starts blowing out those vents over your seat again, and keep blowing while they start the remaining engines.

Interesting.  I've always wondered why the AC cuts out.  The power also blips.  I always assumed it was because they needed power to start the engines, I just didn't know there was a smaller turbine used to generate electricity. 

This also answers my question (that I've never managed to remember to look up) about the exhaust I see coming from the tails of most jets sitting on the tarmac.  Cool info, thanks.   

[MendoDave]

Those things must only run for about 10 to 15 minutes or so before they run out of fuel. still it would be cool to ride one for a bit. 

[MendoDave]

Minor correction The Ones in the Minis I don't know what they are used for exactly. I was referring to the ones in the Photos of the two full sized Bikes. I just now watched the Video. 

[cyrus buelton]

I remember there was some instruction book you could buy in the classified section of Popular Mechanics that gave blueprints for a mini turbine