No material restrictions on Jumo 004, jets a year early? (1 Viewer)

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wiking85

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Jul 30, 2012
Chicagoland Area
According to Wikipedia:
Junkers Jumo 004 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The first prototype 004A, which was constructed to run on diesel fuel, was first tested in October 1940, though without an exhaust nozzle. It was benchtested at the end of January 1941 to a top thrust of 430 kgf (4,200 N; 950 lbf), and work continued to increase the output, the RLM contract having set a minimum of 600 kgf (5,900 N; 1,300 lbf) thrust.[5]

Vibration problems with the compressor stators, originally cantilevered from the outside,[6] delayed the program at this point. Max Bentele, as an Air Ministry consulting engineer with a background in turbocharger vibrations, assisted in solving the problem.[6] The original aluminium stators were replaced with steel ones in which configuration the engine developed 5.9 kN (1,300 lbf) in August, and passed a 10-hour endurance run at 9.8 kN (2,200 lbf) in December. The first flight test took place on March 15, 1942, when a 004A was carried aloft by a Messerschmitt Bf 110 to run up the engine in flight. The 004 used an eight-stage axial-flow compressor, with a number of axial combustion chambers (made from sheet steel), and a one-stage turbine with hollow blades.[4]

On July 18, one of the prototype Messerschmitt Me 262s flew for the first time under jet power from its 004 engines, and the 004 was ordered into production by the RLM to the extent of 80 engines.
The initial 004A engines built to power the Me 262 prototypes had been built without restrictions on materials, and they used scarce raw materials such as nickel, cobalt, and molybdenum in quantities which were unacceptable in production.

Without the material restrictions on the Jumo 004A could it have seen service introduction in 1943 rather than 1944? Reading up on the use of Cromadur to replace Tinadur (basically alloyed steel parts instead of the nickel alloys)caused all sorts of delays due to the need to incorporate cooling refinements and of course alter the manufacture of the blades themselves due to different vibration patterns. Would the original prototype have been available a year earlier without having to use other materials?
 
I'd guess at least 18 months.

Jumo 004B was essentially a new engine design which had many technical problems associated with the hollow turbine blades.
 

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