Request Mythbusters Exploding Water Heater

[2552]

I can't be the only one who wanted to try this in Orbiter after seeing this. It would also be fun to launch it on different bodies like Mars or the Moon to see how high it goes. Anyone want to make this? This page has some useful info about the water heaters used.

 

[T.Neo]

I'm not sure how that could be simulated in Orbiter. It is more of an uncontrolled explosion then a controlled rocket.

 

[n122vu]

Give it an engine with massive amounts of thrust and a ludicrous ISP that expends all of it's fuel in about a second.

"Prepare for Ludicrous Speed!"

 

[EtherDragon]

I did a search, but couldn't find it...

I remember an article that actually listed the specific impluse of non-reactive liquids venting, like steam exiting a hole in a tank.

It was very low - but would be good to know to accurately build a Vertical-Launching Steam-Powered Water-Heater (VLSPWH)

 

[Sky Captain]

Now that was extra:speakcool: A steampunk rocket

Has anyone tried to make a steam powered model rocket?

---------- Post added at 06:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:26 PM ----------

Looks like it`s been done - a steam powered model rocket

What is the ISP of that?

 

[PhantomCruiser]

One of my all-time favorite episodes of Mythbusters...
My dumas brother defeated the safety on his water heater thinking it had a leak. I managed to fix it before his "dubba-wide" blew apart.

 

[bloodtoes]

Oi.. the Gs involved would flatten anyone aboard that ship.
Sounds like a great idea! =D

 

[Ghostrider]

My dumas brother

Does he wear an iron mask or is he a musketeer?

 

[Calsir]

Looks like it`s been done - a steam powered model rocket

What is the ISP of that?

Mmm, a rocket whose exhaust is steam? I'd say 400 seconds; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulcain_2. Just kidding, of course. Actually, the exhaust of a cryogenic LOX/LH rocket cannot really be defined as "steam". Isp depends on a few factors, but we can expect it to be pretty low, around 90s, with a chamber pressure of 20 atm, T~500K and a correct expansion to external pressure. The trouble is that pressure will decrease pretty soon...

 

[PhantomCruiser]

Does he wear an iron mask or is he a musketeer?

Well, neither. I wasn't sure if it was OK to spell out the whole Dumba*s (I put the * there), I didn't want to run the risk of offending somebody... But anyone who plugs the vent of a water heater fits the description.

Speaking of Dumas, oddly enough I got to drink for free (about 6 hours worth) while at an airport bar in Bahrain while reading "Man in the Iron Mask". The bartender was a mulotto Frenchman, and figured even though I was an American, I must be OK if I'm cultured enough to read Dumas.

Didn't mean to temporarily hijack the thread...

Back to the wonderful world of exploding water heaters.