General Meeting #333

Attending: Michael W,
Kevin B,
Julie P, and
Dan S.
(Missing in photo – Dave W)
Call to order: President Dave W called the meeting to order at 20:08 hours

Fresno:

Dave W reported on his recent HP test flights:

  • He ran a data experiment recording Altitude data to an SD drive.
  • He would like to record HD video as well, likely using 1080p to an Intel SSD drive
  • May only be able to get 720p node camera
  • Will try a C Mount video camera with a 1024 x 768 pixel resolution

Julie mentioned that she has MIDI projects that can be adapted if we’re writing to CompactFlash over USB

There was discussion on the Atmel AVR32 chip capabilities and discrete cosine transformations for encoding

Dave mentioned that he had managed to hang one flight (the 2nd) off the power lines, which lead to many silly suggestions on means to remotely separate the chute cords

Catalysts:

Julie mentioned that she had run into (E.R.P.S. founder) Kevin Bollinger at the Steampunk Convention and told him of the meeting. This brought Kevin out and allowed us to reconnect him to the mailing list after a few changes of e-address that meant he wasn’t getting notices any more.

Kevin talked a bit about his cermet catalyst and what went into it, how it was prepared for use and some of our previous methods for making pellets.

Michael talked a bit about the Pill Press option for making pellets. He’s discussed a potential “sample run” with one of the machine distributors and they’re willing to do it if we send them material to compress.

Dave talked a bit about his experiments with demez and said it “almost” works with 85% HTP. He’s tried a combination of turpentine and 25% Copper Naphthalene. Kevin mentioned that the turpentine alone should be reactive with HTP.

Kevin mentioned that he may know a source of JP8, a high density kerosene for use as fuel in bipropellant tests.

Peroxide:

Kevin mentioned that he had come across and old patent for a simpler means of making HTP using EDTA in a column of ion exchange resin. It should remove the water, tin and phosphorus from commercial grade 50% peroxide. There was much discussion on the details and possibilities of this. Hopefully a proposal to build a “pilot” version will be forthcoming.

Treasury: – we still have money.

Engines:

Michael discussed the idea of applying the Dumbo style “dynamic thermocouple” laminar flow approach to a peroxide engine. The basis of Dumbo’s capability was the use of very short laminar flow passages to heat the gas in the wall of the motor and expand it down the central core and out the nozzle. Using a similar approach to catalyze HTP over a short laminar section of catalyst and expand it down the central core where it can mix with and ignite the kerosene could provide a very simple and elegant solution to biprop design.

Adjourned: Michael moved and Julie seconded a motion to adjourn. It passed at 21:09 hrs

General Meeting #333