This document is submitted in fulfillment of the deliverables of the Final Report for the CCDP 2100 Z Team Project on “Robotic Systems and Designs” and “Aerial Vehicle Systems and Design”. The primary objective of this project is to promote innovative environmental thinking and inform the public about the possibilities and feasibility of solar powered flight.
Future Flight has investigated the Energy Collection & Storage, Energy Consumption, and Propulsion of a solar powered aircraft. Rather than design a prototype solar aircraft, this project aims to discuss the aspects of a solar powered airplane that differ most from a fossil fuel powered airplane. To meet its purpose, this report contains background information on the need for carbon neutral flight, a general description of the energy conversions of a
…show more content…
In 2012, transportation accounted for 19% of the total global energy consumption, 96% of which was produced by fossil fuels [1, p. 201]. Furthermore, air transport is the most carbon intensive mode of transportation, accounting for approximately 10 times more carbon emissions than road transport and 100 times more than shipping (per tonne km) [2, p. 4].
Minimizing the carbon emissions of flight through conservation is unlikely to work as the world’s reliance on air transport is increasing [3, p. 1]. Instead, developing technology that would allow for carbon neutral flight would allow the world to continue its reliance on air travel while minimizing the carbon emissions due to air transport. Future Flight will not directly provide a design or solution to carbon intensive flight. Rather, we will explore the key components of a generic solar powered airplane with the goal of demonstrating the feasibility of solar powered
Case Background: - In transportation industry, one of the biggest challenge is how to deal with carbon dioxide emissions and how to reduce the energy. According to the Natural Resources Canada, one third of the greenhouse emission is because of transportation industry.
Nowadays, the growing public awareness of the impact of aircraft emissions on the environment forces the aviation stakeholders to search for environmentally friendly solutions. The relation between aircraft emissions and climate change relies heavily on fossil fuels. Indeed, when an aircraft burns fuel, several pollutants that alter the chemical composition of the atmosphere are produced and released into the sky. One of the principal pollutants emitted from aviation is the carbon dioxide (CO2); a greenhouse gas well known for its contribution to global warming. For each kilogram of fuel consumed, a typical engine of a commercial aircraft produces on average 3.15 kilograms of CO2 [X]. In comparison to other modes of transport, the aviation industry is responsible for 2.5% of global carbon dioxide emissions [X]. Although this percentage may seem relatively small, it has in reality a disproportionate large impact on the environment. Indeed, around 80% of aviation emissions are emitted from flights of over 5,000 feet, and as pointed out by Lee et al. in [X], the impact per kilogram of CO2 emissions at high-altitudes on climate change is about twice that of emissions at ground-level. Faced with this awareness, the International Air Transportation Association (IATA) has recognized the need to address the global challenge of climate change and has set the ambitious goal of reducing the aviation carbon footprint by 50% by 2050, relative to 2005 levels [X].
The second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States is related to transportation, the burning of oil to produce energy in a combustion motor. The combustion process inside of engines is what produces the carbon matter that is emitted into the air through the exhaust system on gas-powered vehicles. Gas-powered transportation is accountable for 24 percent of the global carbon emissions; this should not come as much of a surprise given the amount of urban sprawl that is being seen in the United States and across the globe. In the past decade, the Environmental Protection Agency, the United States government, and major car manufacturers have been working in conjunction to find ways to provide a “greener” form of transportation (EPA, 2011). This has included testing the use of hydropower, ethanol, natural gas, biodiesel, and electricity as a means of powering vehicles, which has led to the introduction of hybrid vehicles. Hybrid vehicles run on electricity and gasoline, the byproduct of oil that is generally used in the engine combustion process of vehicles (U.S. Department of
One of the effects with the most impact from the use of fossil fuels is the pollution created. The United States, per the study conducted by WorldBank, is recorded as being the 10th largest contributor of carbon dioxide in the world per capita. In one year producing 17.6 metric tons, another unfathomable amount (Table). In order to dramatically cut this amount of pollutants down, another source of energy must be utilized. Today, there are many potential options available. Three of the most promising are wind, solar, and tidal energy. Solar is energy obtained from the sun, wind is energy generated by spinning
Research and technological advancement has led to innovation of different bikes in the world today ranging from the human powered normal bicycles that requires pedaling, motorbike that uses fuel and electric bikes that uses electric power. The existing bike types have weaknesses and disadvantages, a situation that calls for coming up with a more advanced bike. The use of a solar powered bike turns out an option towards solving the
In the year 2065, climate change on Earth has spiraled out of control and nations are now fighting for new real estate in space to begin colonization. Mars had been a likely candidate for many years now and was becoming a massive fighting ground for numerous nations. However, it’s arid landscape and small size made it a questionable choice to some. More adventurous and risk-taking politicians urged their researchers to aim for Pluto or planets outside of our solar system. Feeling modern technology was not yet ready for such long distance travel, the United States has chosen to look toward the asteroid belt. As they are setting off, researchers will monitor sunspots to help forecast the behavior of the sun and predict coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Solar-powered sails will make use of solar wind for the early journey after leaving Earth. Radioisotope thermoelectric
Ever since I was little I was amazed at the ability for a machine to fly. I have always wanted to explore ideas of flight and be able to actually fly. I think I may have found my childhood fantasy in the world of aeronautical engineering. The object of my paper is to give me more insight on my future career as an aeronautical engineer. This paper was also to give me ideas of the physics of flight and be to apply those physics of flight to compete in a high school competition.
Alex Grant’s 6 billion kilometer journey to the outer reaches of the solar system was to be the longest continuous spaceflight on record. His spacecraft, Endeavor, was equipped with a solar sail, which harnesses the radiation and particles shooting off the sun - known as solar wind - to propel the ship. The sail, a mirrored
Alternative or clean energy is the way of the future. Every day we wait to implementing changes in the way we generate energy, is a lost opportunity to prevent further damage to the environment. As Kevin Begos (2016) points out in his article “The Solar Energy Controversies” by implementing solar technologies we can help the environment by reduce our dependency on fossil fuels (p. 387).
The transport sector is one of the main global consumers of fossil fuel related energy in the world. Unfortunately fossil fuel is non-renewable source of energy and the production of oil has been fluctuating in the recent past. At the same time, combustion of petroleum related fuel release greenhouse gases such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide that destroy the ozone layer and result to further environmental degradation. Therefore to work
A plane called Solar Impulse was invented with 2 seats and solar panels on the wings. This plane weighs roughly 5,000 pounds. That's about as much as a medium truck. Solar power
In last decade 70% engine fuel per unit of thrust has improved in aircrafts. Aerodynamics is study of force and very useful in aircraft improvements about 25% has changed which is very useful and important feature now a days (induced drag, drag reduction). Economies of scale of larger aircraft is about 5% enhanced. Aviation manufacturers are very significance for fuel economy because fuel economy has provoked in airplane manufacturers to search for new innovations that will advantageous to improve their fuel economy. The world most fuel efficient aircraft is Boeing 787, many of inventions has improved in Boeing 787. The 787’s have improved their fuel economy using composite materials for aircraft skin and complex airplane electronics
Last year for my science fair project I personally invented my own version of a sun tracking solar panel. The solar panel was able to produce three watts of power per hour regardless of its small three-inch by three-inch size, showing me that having direct access to the sun can increase the amount of watts gained multifold. This year, instead of researching over the topic of solar panels, I instead inquired alternative methods of producing energy from economical sources. In this experiment I chose to use a water turbine to produce electricity which in the long run was much more difficult to do.
Since the beginning of recorded history, humans have always had a fascination with flight. Now that we live in a world where boarding an airplane and flying across the country – or even the world - is simply a part of everyday life, the wonder of flight has diminished for many. Despite this, physics students from all around continue to delight in the many physical forces that play a part in keeping these huge objects (like jumbo jets) from falling out of the sky!
Renewable energy is crucial to the future of human society, as it takes from sources that cannot be depleted, such as the wind , waves, and the sun. However, the production of renewable energy is not steady and often exceeds its demand. The excess energy created is often wasted, while renewable energy would prove most effective if it were able to be stored. This would allow renewable energy to be used less in times of low demand and saved for greater use in times of high demand. A recent innovation has been developed to solve this problem: the wind bag. Using compressed air, the wind bag will store and conserve renewable energy, maximizing the productivity of using the water and wind as sources of energy. By analyzing newton 's second law of motion and centripetal acceleration, mathematical equations for wind turbines, offshore wind farms in Belgium, the use of compressed air to store energy, and the aspirations of RWE Power in Germany and the European project AA-CAES for the future of using wind bags for the storage of renewable energy, it is conclusive that wind bags are beneficial to the future of human society and are personally significant to each and every one of us.