I am currently working on designing and building a turbocharger-derived turbojet engine as part of my final-year dissertation project. The primary objective of this engine is to serve as a high-quality teaching aid for demonstrating the fundamental operating principles and components of jet engines, such as the compressor, combustion chamber, turbine, and nozzle.

Given my aspiration to pursue an academic career and utilise this project for educating future university students, I aim to design an engine that is:

1. Durable and reliable for repeated demonstrations in a laboratory or classroom environment.

2. Comprehensive in functionality, showcasing key thermodynamic processes (e.g., Brayton cycle) and providing practical insights into gas turbine operations.

3. Scalable for various teaching applications, including advanced topics like thrust generation, efficiency analysis, and component-level modifications.

I seek advice and insights on the following:

1. Material selection and fabrication: What materials and manufacturing techniques would you recommend for creating a robust yet cost-effective teaching engine?

2. Instrumentation and diagnostics: What sensors and data acquisition systems should be integrated to measure and visualise parameters like thrust, fuel consumption, and exhaust temperature for educational purposes?

3. Turbocharger suitability: From your experience, are there specific turbocharger models or configurations that are better suited for conversion into turbojet engines? How do you recommend addressing challenges such as thermal stresses or achieving adequate thrust levels?

4. Future scalability: What design considerations should I incorporate to ensure this project can evolve into a more advanced teaching aid for broader academic use, such as hybrid propulsion systems or variable geometry components?

Your expertise and suggestions will be invaluable in refining my current project and ensuring its long-term viability as a teaching tool. Thank you in advance for your guidance!

Tags: Turbojet Engine, Turbocharger, Gas Turbine Operations, Teaching Aid, Propulsion Systems, Thermodynamics