39 Chapter 39 (1/2)
On sunday morning Laura was quite busy overseeing the preparations for the test that would happen later that day. After some deliberations with Prof. Yakamura they had settled on performing the test runs in the middle of the track and field area of campus. It allowed for the largest distance between the prototype engine and the involved people, or anything of value.
The semi-permanent equipment had already been removed by the track and field club after their last practice to keep all of it out of danger as well.
While no one expected to see any catastrophic failure in this test, they were just going to run it at idle speed if the engine got started, everyone agreed that it was better to be overly cautious than to risk injury or damages to University property. Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click for visiting.
At the moment Gabe, whom the Kitsune had enlisted to help, was slowly carting the engine to where it would be tethered down for the test while Laura was carrying the improvised fuel tank and dragging a surprisingly big air compressor behind her. The compressor had been made by another student in similar fashion to Laura's engine a couple of years ago as a working model of those used at airports for external assistance in starting a plane's jet engines.
Once all of those were placed in the square marked out earlier by a few pieces of bright yellow tape, Laura got to attaching all hoses to their intended intakes on the engine.
”So what's that big boxy thing for?” Gabe induired while observing Laura's handiwork. ”That other thing looks similar to the fuel tank I've seen on a motorboat before so it's probably a tank.”
”Well many jet engines used on modern planes are exceedingly hard to start with an electric starter motor.” The German began to explain as she got back up after making sure the connections were secure. ”So instead they pump in pre-pressurized air to allow the engine to ignite and start running on its own. Seeing as part of my goal was to create a model of such an engine, I decided to use the same starter mechanism.”
”Ah, okay.” Gabe replied before he started on his way back to the main building to get the next batch of equipment they needed to set up.
Laura meanwhile checked the length of the hose connecting the compressor to the engine, before moving it as far back as possible to minimize the risk when operating it during her engine's start up.
Not much later Gabe had returned with the gear Laura had planned to use for keeping the engine in places. It might not look like much, but Prof. Yakamura had agreed that the eight ground anchors should hold it all firmly in places during this test. Although he had been confused when his student had hand machined them with decently large threading. The reason was rather obvious when Laura drove them into the soil with a powered screwdriver within seconds each.
”You sure those screws will hold that engine in place?” Gabe asked incredulous as he watched her fix the last one in place.
”Pretty sure. Prof. Yakamura ran the numbers on it twice, and even if they start to fail, there is a quick release to disconnect the fuel line form the tank.”
”If you say so.” Gabe responded with a shrug. ”How did you even get the idea to use screws?”
”Ah you see a couple years back, during a LARP I camped next to a group that used similar, albeit a lot shorter ones for their tent instead of normal pegs.” Laura explained offhandedly as she gave the fuel tanks quick release a lookover.
”Now we just need to get all the ballistics glass screens into place and were done for now.” the German noted as she lead Gabe back to the main building one last time.
Once they returned, the duo set up three of the screens between the compressor and the engine, and a pair on either side of it.
”Thanks for your help Gabe, I think I can finish the preparations on my own now.” Laura said as she picked up a couple roll's of the yellow tape they had used to mark everything out and a number of thin wooden poles. ”After all the only thing left to do is set up a marker at the edge of the safety zone so no one wanders in.”