BSCC News

Timetable/Status as of April 2008

The days are going by quickly, we will soon have less than 50 working days until the shipping date.

Chassis Progress

The chassis has been moved by our pair of lifting gantries from its welding jig rails onto its workshop trestles.
The team now have good working access around the car.
The front section is in an advanced state of build. The roll cage modifications have been made. The water tanks are installed and the wiring is being fitted.
The rear fins are complete.
The central tank bay with the LPG and compressed air tanks are being fitted.

Turbine Installation

The turbine and final drive is installed. The oil system pipes and pumps are being fitted. Rear suspension is back on the car.

Steam Pipes

One of the final large sub assemblies is under way at Rilmac Fabrications in Lincoln. The steam pipes running from the 12 boilers through the steam valves and onto the turbine or exhaust are substantial fabrications. In order to cope with the 40 bar pressure and 400 degree centigrade the stainless steel steam pipes have to be 11mm thick in places.

Boilers

We have experienced some problems with the boiler insulation. The micro porous ceramic material has sintered in the region of the burner, showing that it has been up to 1200 degrees centigrade. This has made the material shrink and become brittle. Following discussions with the manufacturer we have decided to line the area around the burner with titanium sheet wrapped around high temperature cloth insulation, this should provide thermal protection up to 1600 degrees centigrade. We are currently making a prototype and hope to test it this week. Fortunately the materials are readily available and we hope to be able to upgrade all the boilers quickly.

Trolley and Trailer

The trolley is complete and looking good with its white PVC cover. It has been tested with 3.5 tonnes of concrete blocks on board. Once we have taken delivery we will fit the trolley with a hydraulic system for raising the car.
The trailer is well under way, and should be ready to take the car to its first tests.

Rigs

Rig construction continues, this picture shows the two electric rigs and the two water rigs. One of the gas /air rigs is finished and the second is currently in build. We hope to commission the rigs in the next few weeks.

The team are hoping to make similar progress in May and get the car off its trestles.

Last updated 30 April 2008