h a l f b a k e r yLike gliding backwards through porridge.
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In my mind, there is enough energy stored in an average shotgun
cartridge to make a decent cup of coffee. (or shot of course)
A device is obviously required. This has to be of robust
construction to contain, and to appropriately channel the energy
of the exploding cartridge so that it blasts
a jet of superheated
water through a plug of compressed coffee.
Ah - it's probably too complicated to work, which is why it's here,
and not on the desk, waiting for engineering drawings at
Remington and Nespresso.
(those who are willing to calculate the energy equivalents may
confirm or deny the principle of the idea)
First you must mill the coffee.
http://thearmsguide...ar-coffee-mill-gun/
[2 fries shy of a happy meal, Feb 06 2015]
Gunpowder tea
http://en.wikipedia.../wiki/Gunpowder_tea
[not_morrison_rm, Feb 10 2015]
[link]
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According to my sources*, a typical shotgun shell
contains about 1.5 grams of powder. I don't know
what propellant is commonly used, but if it were
gunpowder this would have about 4 or 5 kJ of
available energy. |
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This would be enough (without losses) to bring about
50ml of water to boiling point. |
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However, I expect modern propellants are energier
than gunpowder. Plus you could use two barrels. |
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I think Mythbusters should try to build this. |
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I think I see how this could work. |
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You want a long, strong tube (preferably with a low
thermal mass). |
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At the top end of the tube is a breach (or whatever
they call the bit that holds the shotgun cartridge).
The bottom end of the tube is closed by a strong
bulkhead. |
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Just above the bulkhead, in the side of the tube, is a
small hole which can be opened or closed by a tap.
Mounted on this hole (on the side of the tube) is a
receptacle which holds the coffee grounds. This
receptacle has the small perforations and nozzle
which allow water to flow through the coffee and
into a cup. |
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(0) Close the tap at the bottom of the tube.
(1) open the breach at the top, and pour in enough
water for a shot of espresso. The water should not
fill
the tube
(2) fill the receptacle with your chosen coffee.
(3) load a cartridge and close the breach.
(4) hit the arse-end of the cartridge to fire it.
(5) All of the energy of the cartridge will be delivered
into the tube. Some will travel as kinetic energy of
the shot; this will be converted to heat when the
shot hits the water and bulkhead at the bottom of
the tube. The rest will go into massively compressing
the air (or gaseous combustion products) in the
space above the water. The massive compression will
superheat the airspace above the water.
(g) Shake the entire tube for a few seconds. This will
ensure that the superheated air transfers most of its
thermal energy to the water.
(h) Holding the tube upright, SLOWLY open the tap.
Aim the nozzle towards your coffee cup, or towards
anyone within a 20 yard radius whom you would like
to surprise. |
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MythBusters? You could wait years for them to get around to this (activates the [Alterother] signal) |
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Maxwell, with your fortunes you should bake this in a format that looks like a side-by-side with twin hammers. |
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Please accept my advance order for serial number 00001, and let me know where to send the cheque for the deposit. |
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"principal of the idea" : [normzone]'s cheque
"principle
of the idea" : [MB]'s tutorial |
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[normzone] get that cheque made out to me.... I'll be sure
to reward Maxwell at a decent hourly rate for his drilling
and bolting bench work. |
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Yes, credit where credit is due. The idea is
[xenzag]'s. (Note for any injury lawyers reading:
THE IDEA IS XENZAG'S) |
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//In my mind there is enough energy stored// |
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According to my sources, ground roasted coffee
typically contains 5-7% water. A sufficient force,
therefore, should be able to press out this water,
laden with all its coffeeey goodness. |
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//ground roasted coffee typically contains 5-7% water. A
sufficient force,// |
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If only you had something lying about that could generate,
say, 100,000 G. That would probably do it. |
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I've made a decent espresso in a 50ml tube and a
regular centrifuge (to pellet the grounds). But I have
never yet tried ultracentrifuging* dry ground coffee. |
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I am prepared to try this if someone can think of a
plausible explanation to give, if it all goes very
expensively wrong. |
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*kudos to the spellchecker, which recognises
"ultracentrifuging". |
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Ultracentrifuges are one of the few bits of lab
equipment no one ever remembers arriving, they've just
always been in that room next to the cold
room. I think it's because their lifespan is much
longer than that of the average academic career. Or
they breed. Anyhow, just perform your "experiment"
in a centrifuge of ambiguous ownership have an
alibi, and if worst comes to worst, blame it on the
person with the worst English. |
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Fair point. I might try it, although I'm on a bit of a
short leash since I tested my theory that it was
possible to completely defrost a Duran bottle of
frozen liquid in a microwave without loosening the
cap, as long as you time it right. (For the record, it's
not.) |
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//recognises "ultracentrifuging"// - no credit due. You
clicked "add to dictionary" sometime in the past; probably
while somewhat inebriated. |
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I don't think so - I don't even know how to. Is the
spell-checker part of my browser, part of my OS, or
part of the Halfbakery? |
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There is a difference between those three things? |
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Tea made with gunpowder tastes disgusting. Even a NutriMatic would
be ashamed. |
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//spellchecker// it's your browser. Probably a length-based thing (ultrawhatsisisisiisisisis is too long to bother checking). |
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I dunno about length - it doesn't like
"ultracentripuge", for instance. |
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my browser (Waterfox) spellchecker (switched on for this special occasion) doesn't like "ultracentrifuging", so dunno. |
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I find gunpowder tea somewhat bitter. |
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Try brewing it cooler, 70°C is good for most green teas. Could just be very low-grade or stale though. |
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