Flamethrower (MKI)

Initial Research

This is a very dangerous project so I exercised a large amount of caution when designing this device. 
I looked at flamethrowers from World War I and II to get a general idea of some concepts behind the flamethrower and based my design on the pushing of fuel out of a fuel tank using a compressed inert gas.
I also researched combustion of hydrocarbon fuels, specifically their behavior when projected out of a tube, sort of like an aerosol. Fuels with high vapor pressures will ignite much easier than low vapor pressure fuels like diesel. This is vital, as my fuel will be projected out at high speeds and will need to be ignited fast. As such, I chose to use gasoline as my initial fuel, as this is the most available, inexpensive form of fuel with a high vapor pressure.

To make an explosion nearly impossible, I chose to use compressed CO2, an inert gas, as my propellant. Since combustion will not happen without some sort of oxidizing agent, it will be impossible for any fuel to explode or catch fire inside my device's pressure vessel. CO2 is avaible in paintball gun tanks rated at 800psi and can be filled for $5 at Dick's Sporting Goods.

To prevent bursting of my fuel tank, since 800 psi is a considerable pressure, I bought a 1L gas sampling cylinder rated for 5000psi, as it was the only good quality cylinder, to play it safe in my first prototype.

All other piping purchased is rated for 1000psi and will be covered in more detail in later sections.