NASA's Five Green Technology Concepts Aim To Reduce Aircraft Fuel

This blog is about the Five Green Technology Concepts Introduced by NASA in order to conserve aircraft fuel.

The aviation industry is growing rapidly nowadays. It is gradually becoming more modernized as new innovations are instigated. The Air Transport Association (IATA) has prognosticated that passenger traffic will reach 3.6 billion by 2016 with an annual growth rate of 5.3%. These figures surely will demand more efficient and safer aircraft to carry travelers around the globe.

NASA has selected five green technology concepts which have an aptitude of minimizing aircraft fuel and emissions by 75%. NASA’s Transformative Aeronautics Concepts Programme has nominated these concepts for a two-year research in the United States.

On NASA’s selections, Programme Manager, Doug Rohn, commented: “There definitely was an emphasis in our selections on bringing forward activities that addressed a NASA aeronautics goal to reduce the carbon footprint of aviation during the 21st century.”

Five Green Technology Concepts

Hydrogen Fuel Cells: Using hydrogen fuel cells in aircraft will reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. As hydrogen is a renewable source, this will prove to be better than fossil fuels given that hydrogen at high pressure in aircraft will require large and heavy tanks which is deemed to be unacceptable. In response to this, NASA has introduced this green technology concept and looks forward to ameliorate it.

Lithium Batteries: Lithium batteries are lighter. They consist of more energy and require less maintenance compared to other batteries. Although it has some setbacks, NASA has chosen it as part of its green technology concept and will try to make these batteries more effective and efficient.

3D Printing of Electric Motors: 3D printing can produce lighter and smaller electric motors constructed with materials that give high power densities as an output. This is can be a good replacement for the heavy motors that add drag and consequently, contribute to the aircraft weight causing more fuel consumption.

Folding Wings: The main vertical tail is large enough to create drag and contribute to the weight of the aircraft causing more fuel consumption. In order to solve this problem, NASA scientists have planned to alter the wing tip section. Allowing wing tip sections to fold, the tip will act as a rudder and let the main vertical become smaller.

Flexible Antenna: NASA is planning to create a light antenna that can easily transmit and receive data through satellite without adding weight and drag and without consuming much fuel. NASA will work on establishing a light weight antenna by using thin and light weight sheets of aerogel. This new antenna will be having the capability of assuring strong links with satellites by reducing interference with the ground when flying at a low altitude.

I wish NASA the best of luck on their green technology concepts. NASA’s Transformative Aeronautics Concepts Programme will be really effective for a cleaner and safer atmosphere as 75% of aircraft fuel emissions is aimed to be reduced. This will succor in minimizing global warming which consequently makes life better for the upcoming generations.

(Sources used: AirspaceMag.com, NASA.gov, IATA.org, Phys.org, ScienceDaily.com, Mic.com, TriplePundit.com)

Featured Image Credit: (TechStory.in Photo)