Aerospace engineers have a very important job, with the future safety of millions of people in their hands. They have to think of everything. For this blog, we’d like to focus on another important concern of aerospace engineers, the fuel economy.
It’s been well-documented how energy consumption has hit an all-time high, effectively putting in danger levels of energy for subsequent generations. Energy conversation has become the most pressing challenge.
Aerospace engineers are are doing their part by looking into ways their creations can cut energy usage through fuel efficiency. This of course depends on the design and engineering of the aircraft.
A good example of innovation for fuel efficiency is the geared turbofan engine. This fan-drive gear system engine is nothing short of an engineering marvel designed to help smaller, private jets fly longer distances on less fuel. It was observed by several aviation experts that this geared turbofan engine cut fuel usage by almost 15 percent. Because of this success, many aerospace engineers and aviation companies have devoted resources to the creation of bigger models of this engine for commercial airliners and freight planes.
Other aerospace engineers have gone another route. Instead of coming up with new inventions, they’ve modified current parts of the aircraft by changing materials used in building the components. Composite ceramics have the ability to reduce engine weight by nearly a third, and are as dependable as the older alloys being used. These ceramics also make for hotter combustion and ultimately, lower fuel usage.
Peter Zieve is a devoted husband, father, entrepreneur, engineer, and leader. As an inventor-innovator, he is the owner of 223 patents. He is also the CEO of Electroimpact, Inc., a world leader in design and manufacturing of aerospace tooling and automation. For more insightful reads on patents and inventions, visit this blog.
Peter Zieve 