Bladon jets...

....as seen on ITV4 TT coverage tonight.

http://www.bladonjets.com could be the next power source for bikes, either
as direct-drive or hybrid - would be interesting

The first pic on the home page made me think of this
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180513910791
but the unit really is small.

 

I was quite amazed when the bloke on TV was talking about how long it took
to come up a solution to manufacture the turbine wheel. Before he' finished
yabbering I said to the missus "Has he never heard of spark errosion" at
which point he said "We came up with spark errosion".

I mean ffs, it's not as if it's something new and the blokes who make model
jet engines for RC planes and helicopters have been spark eroding their
turbine wheels for years.

 

mmm spark erosion. I worked on designing/building those machines for
quite a few years. It was a lot of fun. I don't miss going home stinking
of dielectric though.

 

http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/marine_turbine_technologies_mtt_superbike_2007.php

 

Yeah, I could imagine Bowick Senior being into one of them. He could
prolly service it, too.

 

I expect Capstone will be examining their Patent file rather closely. Bladon
are a little behind the curve.
www.greencarcongress.com/2009/11/capstone-turbine-to-unveil-prototype-microturbine-rangeextended-electric-supercar-at-la-auto-show.html

Single stage microjets don't cut the mustard, too thirsty.

 

I was thinking that.

 

How long does it take per wheel, though?

 

I used to use spark erosion with a razor blade to cut slices off a
gold single crystal for my Honours Year experiments back in 1973.

Then cyanide etching to remove the damaged layer, and X-ray
diffraction to line it up properly in the goniometer.

--
Ivan Reid, School of Engineering & Design, _____________ CMS Collaboration,
Brunel University. Ivan.Reid@[brunel.ac.uk|cern.ch] Room 40-1-B12, CERN
GSX600F, RG250WD "You Porsche. Me pass!" DoD #484 JKLO#003, 005
WP7# 3000 LC Unit #2368 (tinlc) UKMC#00009 BOTAFOT#16 UKRMMA#7 (Hon)
KotPT -- "for stupidity above and beyond the call of duty".

 

One is somewhat reminded of this:

 

That explains all sorts of things, Ivan.

 

Genuine lol.

 

Nor would I, but it's not like it's a new thing this "spark erosion"

 

Sorry, but that sounds more medical than engineering. Do they do such a
tihng as a syphiometer too?

 

I've no idea, but IIRC, Both Jet-Cat and Wren use the spark erosion process
on their engines.

 

Which is what the Yanks have been working on for quite a long time. Multi
stage I assume, and they have prototype cars already working. Not a big leap
considering Capstone have been selling micro turbine site generators for
several years IIRC.

I've no real doubt that vehicle technology should be something like
microturbines, ultracapacitors, one of the newer lithium battery
technologies and leccy motors. I'm not sure that the market is going to
deliver though. Vested interests and all that.

I had hope that Capstone would team up with Porsche to do something special
but now that a Porsche is just a VW it won't happen.

You do see the door I opened there I'm sure ;o)

 

When was it ever different?

 

Hah you cut the next sentence

 

No really. I once asked Ivan what he did for a living at the pub once.
He explained it clearly and concisely. Yet I was never the same again.

 

Your generosity knows no bounds.