Penn Jet Propulsion
Date: September 2025 - Current
This years project is to research, design, and assembly a fully functional jet engine afterburner. Currently, I am focusing on the fuel injection system, guide vanes, and exhaust cone.
Project Objectives
Develop an afterburner system for the JetCat P100-RX within PJP funding, achieving the following: ​
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Baseline Thrust Objective: Achieve 19 lbf of thrust without afterburner active
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Maximum Thrust Objective: Achieve 130% of stock thrust when afterburning
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Ignition Objective: Maintain reliable ignition within 1 second of operation
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Time Objective: Operate continuously for 15 seconds
Considered Injection Designs
Current Design: Combination of Fuel Injection System, Guide Vanes, and Exhaust Cone
For our design, I was incharge of the fuel injection system for our afterburner. I designed a combined fuel-injection and guide-vane assembly that straightens airflow, supports the exhaust cone, and delivers fuel directly into the high-speed exhaust stream to enable efficient afterburner ignition. Using SolidWorks, I optimized vane geometry, hole diameter, and injector placement to promote uniform fuel–air mixing and minimize drag and weight. Material selection was a critical component of this design: I chose Inconel 718 for the guide vanes and flameholder components (metal 3D printed) due to its high-temperature strength and oxidation resistance, and 316 stainless steel for the outer casing (machined) for durability and manufacturability.
