This is probably what can be called a coincidence of history. The city of Wuhan in China has become notorious in recent months for being the starting place of the outbreak of coronavirus, But it is also there that a team of researchers has just developed a technological invention that has the potential to revolutionize the aerospace sector, stresses, Futura-Sciences. They have designed a turbojet engine which does not need fuel to operate.
scientists from the Institute of technological sciences of the university of Wuhan has published, in the journal AIP Advances, an article that could strongly be of interest to the actors of the aeronautical sector. In fact, the main criticism of the world of aviation is often that of the carbon footprint. For example in Europe, the 27,000 flights crossing in normal times, the sky would be responsible for 3% of the EU's emissions. However, the turbojet engine developed by scientists does not require kerosene. Powered by a plasma flow, it is only supplied with air and electricity. What significantly reduce the environmental impact of civil aviation once traffic will resume normally.
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A prototype small-scale
From a technical point of view, the prototype developed by scientists compresses the air to very high pressure. The air then flows into an ionization chamber, micro-waves and becomes a plasma. It is the jet of plasma, which ensures the propulsion. Important detail, however, the chinese team is working with a prototype capable of lifting a steel ball of a kilogram. But, true to scale, it should ensure a thrust similar to a jet engine classic. It is the next step for the research team.
