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Written on: 17 July 2010 [06:34]
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ethan_2005
Topic creator
registered since: 22.05.2010
Posts: 8
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I am wondering...if we can replace petrol engine by electric engine.....how will we replace jet engine with ..electric engine???? For that we need to carry a mini power station with the plane..
Ethan
Go green Think green
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Written on: 17 July 2010 [12:28]
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iamian
registered since: 23.02.2009
Posts: 107
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The operating principles of a jet engine don't care if it is driven from petroleum energy or electric energy.
An electric powered Jet engine could actually be built to operate more efficiently , smaller, lighter, etc...
The only thing petroleum has is energy density of the fuel ... the fuel has more energy per pound & per Gallon... with equal energy density fuel the electric would do better.
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You do not need a jet engine to fly.
Propeller driven flight is actually more energy efficient than Jet Engine Flight ... just Slower.
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There are small scale electric planed ... the energy density of the batteries limits the range ... otherwise they operate better than combustion engine planes.
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Flying is very energy intensive ... It is one of the most energy wasteful methods of travel.
The best / most efficient plane today if flying only with every single seat filled ... costs ~$0.10 per mile per seat to fly.. and that is not the worst ... it is the best case scenario.
At $3 per gallon a single seat ground vehicle only has to get better than 30 MPG to beet that number ... my 65+ MPG 2 seat Honda Insight crushes it ... a EV Insight would crush my Gasoline Insight ... A bicycle would crush the EV.
2000 MT Honda Insight
MIMA & FAS equipped ... PHEV in progress.
Franken E-Bike 36V NiMH 600W Hub-Motor.
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Written on: 17 July 2010 [12:40]
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ecoadmin
Administrator
registered since: 20.07.2007
Posts: 517
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I am not a mommy  but to answer the question asked in the thread title, I have to shout a clear "No!"
The ICE can be easily replaced by the electric counterpart. You need a proof? Just look at the many reliable electric cars on the road today.
In the aviation industry we are facing much bigger problems. To date we have no alternative to liquid fuel.
There are some alternatives to fossil fuels, but those fuels are at an early stage of development. I happen to work in this industry and to be honest with you I am not too optimistic that anything will replace the fossil fuel so soon. A shift to something other than a liquid fuel would be a huge undertaking and before this happens, the industry is likely to bear increased fossil fuel costs before actually switching to something else.
The problem ob being dependent of fossil fuel and its price variations has led the industry to at least think about the issue.
On the political front there is relatively little movement to support the development of alternative fuels. Thats why Boeing and Airbus have agreed to coordinate the development of bio-fuel for their aircraft.
Part of that new movement are also 19 airlines which plan to introduce biofuel for aircraft by 2013.
Now we all know that first generation biofuel can be a questionable resource for powering cars or airplanes.
Thats why Boeing and Airbus are working on second generation biofuel which does not cost the earth.
Second generation biofuel is made of plant matter such as Camelina and Jatropha which also grow on infertile soil. Other sources for fuel are algae plants.
Test runs have been made with more than 50% of the fuel coming from alternative sources. The tests have revealed that alternative fules are better in regards to freezing point, energy content, pollution and CO2 emissions.
To build up a functioning market for biofuel, Boeing thinks that 1% of all aviation jet fuel has to be replaced by biofuel by 2015. For 2030 it is expected that 30% of the fuel will be from renewable resources.
Interesting is that no US airline supports the movement apart from Alaska Airlines.
It will be a huge challenge to produce the amounts of fuel needed in an environmentally friendly way.
Technically second gen biofuel is ok to be used by jet engines, but the infrastructure and production methods used need to be ecological. That proof has not been delivered yet...
ecocarforum.com - Green Car Network
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