Aircraft designers and manufacturers are designing and building better aircrafts as compared to those produced four decades ago. Through the evolution of aircraft engines leading to the jet engines, with turbofans dominating the civil aviation industry, substantial R&D and regulations are in place for continual improved performance of the aircrafts with respect to the 2 important aspects powering the aviation industry. These two aspects comprise of OEMs vying to have the most economical engine designs and yet, at the same time have the least environmental impact on the planet. These two aspects justify why the turbofan remains the choice engine of today since the turbofan is much more fuel efficient than the turbojet and the low-speed air helps to cushion the noise of the core jet’s exit air making the engine much quieter.
At the same time, Ultra-Efficient Engine Technology Program (UEET), a 5 year program of NASA, plans for the next generation of aircraft engines to improve aircraft performance in terms of noise and emissions reduction. This program requires the close partnership with several organizations as well as the utilization of NASA’s expertise and research facilities to come up with technologies that can overcome the challenges.
As the aviation industry booms, regulatory standards are in place to ensure the aviation industry do not leave a negative impact on the planet and that living standards and quality are not affected by the industry. ICAO, the global platform for such regulatory standards, is the main driving body that oversees R&D, imposes stringent regulatory standards on aircraft carriers and promotes initiatives to improve standards. And indeed, current evidences show that the success of these programs and stringent standards has vastly improved noise and emissions reduction and is enjoyed by the aviation industry as seen by the economical fuel efficiency and reduced noise of the new A380 and B787.
However, the technical challenges remain for OEMs to find suitable materials to withstand the more demanding operating conditions and to adhere to regulatory standards. ‘Engines of the future’ will make use of active combustor control to achieve a lower combustor pattern factor and hence reduce the turbine cooling requirements and thermal fatigue and failure. In addition, it is of paramount importance to consider propulsion-airframe integration and not neglect effects of aerodynamics, flight stability and control, thermodynamics, amongst other considerations that designers might have.
In conclusion, the future looks set for ‘engines of the future’ as improved noise reduction and emissions continues. Coupled with ongoing projects, initiatives, stringent regulatory standards and fierce competition from aircraft companies, the conceptualization of ultra efficient engine is possibly already achieved and will definitely be improved further.
At the same time, Ultra-Efficient Engine Technology Program (UEET), a 5 year program of NASA, plans for the next generation of aircraft engines to improve aircraft performance in terms of noise and emissions reduction. This program requires the close partnership with several organizations as well as the utilization of NASA’s expertise and research facilities to come up with technologies that can overcome the challenges.
As the aviation industry booms, regulatory standards are in place to ensure the aviation industry do not leave a negative impact on the planet and that living standards and quality are not affected by the industry. ICAO, the global platform for such regulatory standards, is the main driving body that oversees R&D, imposes stringent regulatory standards on aircraft carriers and promotes initiatives to improve standards. And indeed, current evidences show that the success of these programs and stringent standards has vastly improved noise and emissions reduction and is enjoyed by the aviation industry as seen by the economical fuel efficiency and reduced noise of the new A380 and B787.
However, the technical challenges remain for OEMs to find suitable materials to withstand the more demanding operating conditions and to adhere to regulatory standards. ‘Engines of the future’ will make use of active combustor control to achieve a lower combustor pattern factor and hence reduce the turbine cooling requirements and thermal fatigue and failure. In addition, it is of paramount importance to consider propulsion-airframe integration and not neglect effects of aerodynamics, flight stability and control, thermodynamics, amongst other considerations that designers might have.
In conclusion, the future looks set for ‘engines of the future’ as improved noise reduction and emissions continues. Coupled with ongoing projects, initiatives, stringent regulatory standards and fierce competition from aircraft companies, the conceptualization of ultra efficient engine is possibly already achieved and will definitely be improved further.
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