I have built a propane meter and am wondering how much psi you use to fill your launcher. I figured it to be 3 psi in the propane meter, that seems really low to me.
I used the plans from mfanda.net (thanks for the great website). My chamber is 4" in diameter and 3 feet long.
Thanks for any help.
Edit by Moderator (MrCrowley): Please read the topic section description before posting in that section. You posted in the showcase section which clearly states is only for finished projects, a section for where you want to show off your cannon. You need to post in the discussion section which is for...discussing.
Propane Meter PSI
- Crna Legija
- First Sergeant 2
- Posts: 2333
- Joined: Sun Jul 20, 2008 5:14 am
- Location: australia
we need to know the volume of your meter pipe to help.
'' To alcohol... The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems.”
--Homer Simpson
Add me on ps3: wannafuk, 8/11/11 cant wait
--Homer Simpson
Add me on ps3: wannafuk, 8/11/11 cant wait
-
- Private
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Wed Apr 27, 2011 9:17 pm
THe gun is around 500 cubic inches and the meter pipe is about 20 cubic inches.
- mark.f
- Sergeant Major 4
- Posts: 3638
- Joined: Sat May 06, 2006 11:18 am
- Location: The Big Steezy
- Has thanked: 58 times
- Been thanked: 59 times
- Contact:
That meter pipe is HUGE... 4% of your chamber volume already, so fill to 15 PSI. I don't think you read the instructional close enough.
I see what you did. The equation I wrote for for PSIA, not PSIG, so subtract 14.7 from your answer to get gauge PSI.
I see what you did. The equation I wrote for for PSIA, not PSIG, so subtract 14.7 from your answer to get gauge PSI.
-
- Private
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Wed Apr 27, 2011 9:17 pm
Oh thanks, I didn't read the page close enough. I can't wait to get this thing going
-
- Private
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Wed Apr 27, 2011 9:17 pm
What is a common volume for meter chamber? I think I did my math way wrong and when I redid it I got 1.1 cubic inches. Is that close?
Edit: The main chamber of the meter is 6" of 1/2 inch piping. I got a final psi of 290. Is that possible to get out of a propane tank?
Edit: The main chamber of the meter is 6" of 1/2 inch piping. I got a final psi of 290. Is that possible to get out of a propane tank?
- Crna Legija
- First Sergeant 2
- Posts: 2333
- Joined: Sun Jul 20, 2008 5:14 am
- Location: australia
make is smaller and you fill it to around 35-40 psi. you could make it like 1 cubic and fill it to 20psi, i think not 100% sure on it.
'' To alcohol... The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems.”
--Homer Simpson
Add me on ps3: wannafuk, 8/11/11 cant wait
--Homer Simpson
Add me on ps3: wannafuk, 8/11/11 cant wait
- mark.f
- Sergeant Major 4
- Posts: 3638
- Joined: Sat May 06, 2006 11:18 am
- Location: The Big Steezy
- Has thanked: 58 times
- Been thanked: 59 times
- Contact:
If you're gun is really 500 cubic inches, you need a much larger meter pipe.
Are you sure you did the math for your combustion chamber volume correctly? Even if your chamber was made from 4" SCH-40, it would have to be 40 inches long...
Are you sure you did the math for your combustion chamber volume correctly? Even if your chamber was made from 4" SCH-40, it would have to be 40 inches long...
-
- Private
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Wed Apr 27, 2011 9:17 pm
Yeah, It's 36" long and then there is a little less then a foot of 3". I just rounded up for convenience sake. How much bigger do you think it should be?
- mark.f
- Sergeant Major 4
- Posts: 3638
- Joined: Sat May 06, 2006 11:18 am
- Location: The Big Steezy
- Has thanked: 58 times
- Been thanked: 59 times
- Contact:
I would move up a to 3/4" meter pipe about 18" long for a manageable meter pipe pressure (especially during cold weather). This would give you a meter pipe pressure of about 31 PSI.