As a fast-growing emitter of greenhouse gases, the aviation industry is under intense pressure to improve its fuel efficiency. One place that Boeing and Airbus, which between them build all of the world's large civilian airliners, look for such improvement is in areoengines, using turbofans. Beyond the construction of the engines, airliner makers are looking to better body designs to improve fuel efficiency. The simplest improvement is to make existing body designs lighter, using carbon-fibre composites for the entire airframe. Stronger composites, reinforced by carbon nanotubes, are widely regarded as the next step. Additionally, manufacturers are toying with radical body concepts, such as the blended wing-body that was poineered in the US Air Forces' B2 stealth bomber. The ultimate zero-emissions fuel may prove to be hydrogen, which could easily be burned by conventional jet engines with no carbon emissions.
Civil aviation faces green challenge
Nature ; 448 , 7150 ; 120-121
2007
2 Seiten, 1 Bild
Article (Journal)
English
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