Nasa

Researchers, engineers and scientists at Nasa Glenn Research Center are developing alternative aircraft designs with low-carbon propulsion technology for manufacturing larger and environmentally friendly passenger aircraft.

Traditionally, carbon-based fuels, including gasoline and kerosene, have been used to power commercial aircraft. Aeronautical engineers at the agency are searching for ways on how to use electric power to provide thrust and power to planes during their flights.

The concept of using electric power in aircraft is similar to one that involves using hybrid or turboelectric power in cars, boats and trains.

Nasa researchers expect the new aircraft propulsion system to lower consumption, emissions and noise, as well as help the aviation industry to use hybrid electric and turboelectric propulsion instead of gas turbines.

Researchers at Glenn Research Center are trying to develop a power system that generates electricity and converts it into thrust using fans at other places on the plane.

Nasa advanced air transport technology project manager Jim Heidmann said: "Aircraft are highly complex machines.

"Our work is laying a foundation for planes that will require less fossil fuel in the future."

"Moving toward alternative systems requires creating new aircraft designs, as well as propulsion systems that integrate battery technologies and electromagnetic machines like motors and generators with more efficient engines."

In addition, the engineers are designing better motors, generators and integrated electrical system architectures, as well as researching into identifying basic materials for those components.

They are also researching the design of the motors and construction of power electronics, as well as designing better magnetic materials and semi-conductors for producing lighter and more efficient motors and electronics to be used in future aircraft.

Technical lead on the project Cheryl Bowman said: "Our work is laying a foundation for planes that will require less fossil fuel in the future.

"Considering that the US aviation industry carries over 700 million passengers every year, making each trip more fuel efficient (by up to 30%) can have a considerable impact on the nation’s total use of fossil fuels."

Nasa, through Transformative Aeronautics Concepts programme (TACP), helps researchers to explore new ideas for future commercial aviation and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), as well as perform ground and small-scale flight tests of those systems.

Image: A future aircraft design concept by Nasa. Photo: courtesy of Nasa.