Air traffic is known to be harmful to the climate because aeroplanes emit a considerable amount of CO2. Philipp Sinnewe investigated whether there is a more efficient and more climate friendly alternative to conventional aeroplane engines. He built a small model of a jet engine and used it to test a new type of fuel. The young researcher used a water-alcohol mixture in combination with kerosene, the fuel typically used in aircraft. The water in this set-up expands in the engine as it turns to steam, increasing the thrust. The results of the experiments on his self-built engine test rig are promising. They suggest that this fuel can cut CO2 emissions by a third compared to kerosene.
Contestants
Philipp Sinnewe
Engineering
Country
Germany