Ran across this .... <<<< Ken >>>> > > >
> > >In 1995, the technology used to build the Bell Rocket Belt was revived by a group of Texas engineers who designed a slightly enhanced version called the RB 2000 Rocket Belt. The redesigned belt was able to travel 50 percent farther than the Bell Rocket Belt, enabling users to stay airborne for 30 seconds instead of 20. > >Rocket packs contain three substances that make up a chemical reaction that produces thrust: > >Hydrogen-peroxide propellant >High-pressure nitrogen gas >Samarium-nitrate-coated silver (which acts as a catalyst) >Two metal tanks mounted on the rocket pack are filled with a total of about 6 gallons (23 liters) of hydrogen-peroxide propellant. When the operator opens the throttle, the high-pressure nitrogen gas is released, forcing the hydrogen peroxide into a catalyst chamber. Once inside the catalyst chamber, the hydrogen peroxide reacts with the silver material, which turns the hydrogen peroxide into a high-pressure, superheated steam that measures 1,370 degrees Fahrenheit (743 degrees Celsius). >The steam shoots out through two bent tubes that run from the top of the tank down the side, just behind the operator's arms. The tubes are wrapped in insulation so that no heat is lost. Because of the heat, the operator must wear a heat-resistant suit to prevent burns. Water and vapor exiting from the two nozzles at the end of the exhaust tubes produce more than 300 pounds of thrust, which is more than enough to propel a person into the air for a short rocket flight. > > > <<<<
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