Anybody got any pointers to developments in environmentally friendly aero engines

[nJayM]

I am entering my final year in a BA Accounting.

For the last 2 years I have tentatively pin pointed that my interest would be to write a 12,000 word dissertation on the financial benefits of the environmentally friendly aero engines being developed.

To this end at my own expense I have done Farnborough 2008, Duxford 2008, Leuchars 2007, Leuchars 2009 and hope to go to Farnborough 2010.

So far I have spoken with Rolls Royce on a few occasions but as yet only have pointers within their web sites.

I have also seen the literature on the prototype APU planned for use on some Airbus Industrie models of the future.

I have also talked to Reaction Engines on the topic of their LAPCAT project.

Can anyone help with any more pointers (e.g. URLs, names of companies) to any possible interesting projects going on the topic of e-friendly aero engines ?

[J Boyle]

Do a search on serious aviation magazine websites...
Aviation Week, Flight International, Air Transport World...names you should be familiar with if you've done serious research.
In other words, the stuff the pros read and not aimed at the tail spotters. They're not available at your news agents.

There have been articles lately about Airbus and Boeing wondering if they should go ahead with re-engining their current narrow-body lines or wait a few more years and do a new airframe with a new engine.

Also, I've seen comments from airlines about their break even points...in other words, a small fuel efficiency increase isn't worth doing a massive re-fleet effort.

[nJayM]

Hi

I have access to hard copies of Flight International in the local library but not the other two as my university has for reasons known only to them stopped getting publications to do with Aeronautics and Aviation.

I shall certainly follow up on your advice and go from there but if you hear of or remember anything else please post as they will be welcome.

Thanks

[symon]

Jay, I have a few suggestions. Firstly, look into borrowing or buying a copy of Rolls-Royce, The Jet Engine - pretty much a bible on engine design and has lots of information on engine improvements for better efficiency.

Look at information from airlines such as Air New Zealand and Virgin who have been conducting bio-fuel flights with companies such as Boeing and Rolls-Royce.

Look in to Pratt and Whitney PW1000G and their geared turbofan.

Look in to companies such as EcoPower and their water wash technologies.

Anything else, send me a PM. It's my day job

[nJayM]

Originally Posted by symon

Jay, I have a few suggestions. Firstly, look into borrowing or buying a copy of Rolls-Royce, The Jet Engine - pretty much a bible on engine design and has lots of information on engine improvements for better efficiency.

Look at information from airlines such as Air New Zealand and Virgin who have been conducting bio-fuel flights with companies such as Boeing and Rolls-Royce.

Look in to Pratt and Whitney PW1000G and their geared turbofan.

Look in to companies such as EcoPower and their water wash technologies.

Anything else, send me a PM. It's my day job

Hi Symon

Great advice. And shall follow through with all you guy's suggestions.

Any more thoughts/ideas just pile them in.

I decided I wanted to do something interesting and useful for my dissertation as you don't get paid for it. Also having been a pilot (albeit CPL trainee) and aircraft buff since a little boy. I also have been flying all over with my parents since I was 15 months old.

Thks

[ThreeSpool]

Boeing's AERO Online Magazine has a wealth of articles that could prove interesting.

http://www.boeing.com/commercial/aeromagazine

http://www.boeing.com/commercial/aer...icle_06_1.html

An article on Boeing development on Fuel Cell APU's: http://www.boeing.com/news/frontiers...y/ts_sf7a.html

There is also the Airbus version of AERO, FAST: http://www.airbus.com/en/services/publications/

[Ship 741]

Google "Leap x"

[nJayM]

Originally Posted by Ship 741

Google "Leap x"

Sure - gets some search results related to the CFM devlopments.

Thks and anything else you think of however trivial relating to environmentally friendly aero engines please do post.

[nJayM]

Originally Posted by ThreeSpool

Boeing's AERO Online Magazine has a wealth of articles that could prove interesting.

http://www.boeing.com/commercial/aeromagazine

http://www.boeing.com/commercial/aer...icle_06_1.html

An article on Boeing development on Fuel Cell APU's: http://www.boeing.com/news/frontiers...y/ts_sf7a.html

There is also the Airbus version of AERO, FAST: http://www.airbus.com/en/services/publications/

Thanks ThreeSpool

Got your list of URLs in to my to search and to do diary

Any further thoughts please add them as it is a developing topic in the world of aero engines.

[27vet]

The jet engine was invented during the second world war if I remember correctly. Since then, no other viable type of engine has been invented. The jet engine has been highly refined and is probably at the limits of it's possible efficiency. Jet engines still eat up the ozone layer, even at today's levels of technology. Until they invent a completely new system of propulsion (antimatter, ions or something similar), nothing is going to change much in terms of environmental friendliness.

From Wikipedia:

Jet engines are usually run on fossil fuel propellant, and are thus a source of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Jet engines can use biofuels or hydrogen, although the production of the latter is usually made from fossil fuels.
About 7.2% of the oil used in 2004 was consumed by jet engines.[45]
Some scientists[who?] believe that jet engines are also a source of global dimming due to the water vapour in the exhaust causing cloud formations[citation needed].
Nitrogen compounds are also formed from the combustion process from atmospheric nitrogen. At low altitudes this is not thought to be especially harmful, but for supersonic aircraft that fly in the stratosphere some destruction of ozone may occur.
Sulphates are also emitted if the fuel contains sulphur.

[nJayM]

Hi 27vet

What you have presented is acknowledged as fact.

There are some moves towards Hydrogen Cell power plants, already seen in APUs for the Airbus.

There are also devlopments in efficiency in existing designs with many new variants/releases.
e.g. gaining in the re-heat by changing the material of and angle of the fan blades in the reheat chamber in some new versions of military jet engines.

For me it will be a good experience to see where the developments are moving and try to see what investment and return on investment there will in the R&D and what if any will be in savings to operators

Will the end user have to pay to absorb the R&D costs, usually is the case ?

[nJayM]

Does anyone have anymore information or comments on the DA42 that did a very short demo flight at FIA on Sunday 25 July. The commentator stated that it was flying on a fuel derived from Algae.

Given that I had a grandstand ticket and it was a great day for flying I missed making any contact on the stand with the companies concerned.

http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/ai...gae-biofu.html

The engine is reportedly an Austro Engine AE300

http://www.austroengine.at/products/...n-engines.html

Does anyone have any useful comments or further information in the way of URLs which cover the same combination of products?

[27vet]

Not quite a reply to your above question, but remember that hydrogen + oxygen = heat + water. However, as there is still a lot of money to be made from oil by greedy people, that kind of fuel is still a way off. For that reason, I am a bit of a conspiracy theorist as far as non-fossil fuel engines are concerned. I believe there already have been such inventions which have been quickly eliminated. Have a look on You Tube for hydrogen powered engines.

[nJayM]

Originally Posted by 27vet

Not quite a reply to your above question, but remember that hydrogen + oxygen = heat + water. However, as there is still a lot of money to be made from oil by greedy people, that kind of fuel is still a way off. For that reason, I am a bit of a conspiracy theorist as far as non-fossil fuel engines are concerned. I believe there already have been such inventions which have been quickly eliminated. Have a look on You Tube for hydrogen powered engines.

Hi 27 vet
Your comments are in keeping with many honest opinions about why 'Detroit' (and all global auto engine manufacturers) have really stayed (making bucks) with the internal combustion engines.
The same is true of aero engines.
I still believe that rather than my write a 12,000 word dissertation about Scottish Nationalists' Politically correct gobbledegook about in/under sea Wave Machines and Wind Turbines (the medium to long term maintenence of which far outweighs any short term energy gains), I 'd rather write something on a subject passionately close to my heart - aero engines of the future using less or non-fossil fuels.
I shall look as you sugegst on You Tube - Thanks