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Steam Powered Underwater Jet Engine

Posted by chrisd on from the seaquest-dsv-without-the-dolphin dept.

Bob Vila's Hammer writes "An Australian engineer, Alan Burns invented a very efficient underwater steam powered jet engine. "Steam that is produced from a petrol or gasoline fueled boiler emerges at high speed from a rearward-facing ring-shaped nozzle into a cone-shaped chamber. Shock waves created as the steam condenses are focused by the chamber to blast water out of the back. Besides powering watercraft pretty efficiently, it can also be used as an extremely robust pump. Pretty Cool."

24 of 320 comments (clear)

  1. Neato by assaultriflesforfree · · Score: 5, Funny

    One thing I'm curious about is why they can only be scaled to 300 horsepower... Seems like if a 20 cm one can put out 30 HP, a big one could put out a lot more. It also might be fun to install a 20 cm one into a ketchup dispenser at McDonald's or something. And also, will it shoot potatos?

    1. Re:Neato by nounderscores · · Score: 5, Funny

      Maybe they only did safety factor calculations out to 10x? It might require a slightly different shaped engine for higher horespowers to avoid the KABOOM failure mode.

      Also, the article says that part of the engine was demonstration was to shove large amounts of lard and cardboard through it, so I would say Yes it is a machine potato gun... so long as your potatos start out underwater. (no water, no jet)

      hmmm. as an afterthought, have you ever heard about the Archerfish? It's a firefighting boat which uses a jet ski engine to get to the fire, and then reroutes the engine through the firehose to put out the fire. Secondary propulsion allows the boat to manouver in firefighting mode.

      If you fitted a grille over the intake of the super water jet engine, you could put out the fire with a more powerfull blast from a more reliable engine and not have any disadvantages like slugging the burning marina with underwater potatoes and sucked up fish.

      (one more thought)

      since the water is only 3 or 4 degrees warmer after it exhausts from the blast chamber, would trout that has been killed by being sucked up by the engine be in one piece and good to eat if you turned around and began to scoop up your trail of dead sucked up fish? It would be the simplest fishing trip since the invention of dynamite.

    2. Re:Neato by tcr · · Score: 2, Funny

      I was thinking of McDonalds too, when they said this... :-)

      Todman shoved large quantities of lard and cardboard into the inlet without the pump suffering any ill effects. It could even mix materials used by the food industry.

      --


      Information wants to be beer.
  2. from the article by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Todman shoved large quantities of lard and cardboard into the inlet without the pump suffering any ill effects.

    COWBOYNEAL NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

    1. Re:from the article by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      ...because i'm always hitting large quantities of lard and cardboard when i'm out on the water, and it's good to know this motor can take it.

  3. is it really feasible? by trmj · · Score: 3, Funny

    Sounds to me like it's full of hot air.

    --
    Work sucked, until it became unemployment, when it became slightly more tolerable. -Tet
    1. Re:is it really feasible? by Myco · · Score: 4, Funny

      Are you saying the theory doesn't hold water? That it's a tempest in a teapot? I could certainly see getting all steamed up about that. Might have to jet-tison the whole project. Then they'd really be in hot water. On the other hand, if it does work, it would be a real watershed event. Certainly more than just water under the bridge, anyway. Well, maybe they'll just have to set this whole steam thing on the back burner for now -- after all, a watched pot never boils.

      --
      My deviantArt site
  4. Re:just a note by Exiler · · Score: 4, Funny

    The water-jet engine was invented by a New Zealander some years ago. The difference with this thing is it uses compressed steam rather than the usual propellar



    I'll let you figure this one out yourself....

    --
    Banaaaana!
  5. U s e f u l by djupedal · · Score: 3, Funny

    Sure, me too...I prefer steamed flesh any day, over chopped-by-prop mammals, who doesnt't?

  6. Re:Super Powered Submarines! by child_of_mercy · · Score: 3, Funny

    thats where the supercavitating comes in.

    "d'uh"

    --
    'There is a Light that never goes out.'
  7. Also it provides warmth to nearby fish by Error27 · · Score: 4, Funny

    It is estimated that a gazillion fish die every day from cold. This new jet engine provides a wonderful means of transportation and enriches the lives of nearby sea food.

  8. Junkyard Wars / Scrapheap Challenge by spike666 · · Score: 2, Funny

    and in only 15 years we'll be seeing one power some sort of vehicle on Junkyard Wars / Scrapheap Challenge...

  9. Nifty by LongJohnStewartMill · · Score: 2, Funny

    That could be scary. Imagine that thing in your hot tub.

    Tim: Ahhhhh... This is great, all we need now is a bit more power. [Grunt] I'll just set it to 500 knots.

    *click*

    *foom*

    Jill: Gargle gargle gargle

    Tim: Jill? What are you doing? You know, going underwater in the hot tub isn't good for your ears. Are you listening?

    I guess that's a bit off topic... Meh...

  10. new quote? by GimmeFuel · · Score: 2, Funny

    Eagles soar, but wease^H^H^H^H^Hwhales don't get sucked into jet engines?

    --
    live(free) || die;
  11. landing on the flight deck by nounderscores · · Score: 2, Funny

    It's a pity that the stall speed of most modern fighter aircraft is around 150 knots. Imagine how easy carrier landings would be if you and the carrier could head into the wind and the carrier would match speed with the fighter!

  12. Re:Now there are two ways... by sickmtbnutcase · · Score: 5, Funny

    One question... What if they run into a school of tuna? ;-)

    Kinda makes me think of the "Bass-O-Matic" commercial on Saturday Night Live...

  13. [Troll] If michael had posted this story: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Underwater Jet wreaking underwater havoc?
    TechnologyPosted by michael on Wednesday

    from the please-thinkof-the-dolphins dept.

    Bob Vila's Hammer writes "An evil Australian engineer, Alan Burns invented a very cruel underwater steam powered fish-killer/ocean polluter. "Steam that is produced from a petrol or gasoline fueled boiler emerges at high speed from a rearward-facing ring-shaped nozzle into a cone-shaped chamber. Shock waves created as the steam condenses are focused by the chamber to blast water out of the back, instantly killing hoards of hapless sea-life". Looks like another win for big oil and corporate America. Thanks George W.

  14. logical progression by silverhalide · · Score: 4, Funny

    I love the way technological evolution works:

    Diesel Powered -> Nuclear Powered -> Wood-fired subs!

  15. Re:Poor whales and dolphins... by nicething · · Score: 2, Funny

    If the dolphins complain, then we can just give them complimentary underwater-jet-packs. Then, on romantic moonlit nights, passengers on cruise ships can watch the playful dolphins jump over the boat.

  16. Re:Australias next invention by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Thats because he really meant Americans, but Americans can't spell.

  17. Ugh, I need my first coffee by jlanng · · Score: 2, Funny

    I read it as 'steak-powered' :D

  18. The real question... by tellurian · · Score: 2, Funny

    From the article:

    "The steam drive can also function as an extremely robust pump. It can shift water, sewage or oil, and in a demonstration for New Scientist, Todman shoved large quantities of lard and cardboard into the inlet without the pump suffering any ill effects."

    So the real question is when will someone make one big enough to become the first under water roller coaster?

    Furthermore:

    "It doesn't simply mix -- it macerates," says Todman".

    Hmmm... macerates... "to soften and cause to disintegrate as a result"... oh well... just don't turn it up all the way :-)

  19. Re:Super Powered Submarines -- Heck no, SCUBA ! by coolgeek · · Score: 3, Funny

    That would make it a Self Contained Underwater Boogie Aparatus.

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    cat /dev/null >sig
  20. undware by OwlofCreamCheese · · Score: 2, Funny

    I read that as steam powered underware, I was really disapointed when it turned out to be more boreing...

    --
    -You're wasting your time. Alfador only likes me.