Nanocatalysts to boost future ultra supersonic jets
Princeton engineers leading a team of scientists, are developing a fuel additive made up of nanocatalysts that will help future jets fly faster and make diesel engines more efficient. This project is being granted $3 million, which comes from the Air Force as part of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Research Program.
This additive/nanocatalyst is composed of carbon derivative, Graphene (200- to 500-nanometer-wide flakes), that will enable the fuel to ignite and burn faster, which is a prerequisite for the contemporary jet planes. Graphene when added in small quantities to the liquid fuel lowers the temperature at which the fuel ignites.
Today's jet planes travel at ultrasonic speeds. Since the ignition time and combustion rate of current jet fuels limits the speed of the engines, therefore to travel at speeds greater than ultrasonic, the fuel needs to be burned at the same rate. Contemporary jet planes fail to achieve this rate, but future planes will house a propulsion system that runs at supersonic speed to maximize its efficiency.
Furthermore, Graphene will make the diesel engines greener as it reduces the amount of nitric oxide produced by diesel engines. It will also help satellites to position them in space, since it will be an additive to satellites liquid propellants.
Via: Press Release
