Chinese researchers recently claimed that the cost of commercial hypersonic flight could be significantly reduced by using an air-breathing engine that burns a mixture of ethylene and coal powder. The researchers report their findings in a paper appearing in the September 15 issue of the peer-reviewed journal Acta Armamentarium. In a ground test, an experimental device using an inexpensive mixture produced shocks travelling at 2 km per second, or six times the speed of sound.
“Coal powder’s excessive power density, protection and occasional fee make it a completely unique gain while used as an engine fuel,” stated the group led by way of Professor Weng Chunsheng of the National Key Laboratory of Transient Physics of Nanjing University of Science and Technology. One of the most common byproducts of oil refineries is ethylene, and coal currently accounts for a large portion of China’s electricity generation. However, it is relevant to note that China had earlier faced an energy crisis due to shortage of coal, a situation that has now reversed
Can Coal Propel Hypersonic Aeroplanes? Chinese scientists claim ‘big discovery’ in cutting Mach 5+ travel cost
The report, ambitious as it is, does not mention China’s decision to cut coal use to reduce emissions. Chinese President Xi Jinping promised last year to strictly control coal use and begin reducing it in 2026 to maximise the country’s greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions before 2030. That said, experts stress that the global economic downturn will not allow China to phase out coal as the president has vowed. In that context, the statements made by Chinese scientists have gained significance.
Can Coal Propel Hypersonic Aeroplanes? Chinese scientists claim ‘big discovery’ in cutting Mach 5+ travel cost
Beijing-based scientists previously reported in the EuroAsian Times that China is developing a hypersonic aircraft capable of carrying passengers anywhere in the world within an hour. Another claims that the plane will cut the travel time from Shanghai to New York by up to 12 hours.
For China’s hypersonic program to achieve smooth, long-range flight at Mach 7, Weng and his colleagues are developing detonation engine technology. It is a propulsion system that uses detonation waves to ignite a mixture of fuel and oxidizer. Notably, in May of this year, Chinese researchers claimed that their air-breathing engine, fueled by inexpensive hydrocarbon fuel explosions, achieved stable performance during a simulated hypersonic test flight.
Can Coal Propel Hypersonic Aeroplanes? Chinese scientists claim ‘big discovery’ in cutting Mach 5+ travel cost
Defence and aerospace analyst Girish Linganna told the EuroAsian Times, “Generally, when looking for a propellant fuel, ethylene is looked at. This is due to its specific stimulation and concentration. There are better yet more expensive fuels that give the same thrust but are denser. Therefore, the vehicle can travel longer distances or use smaller fuel reserves. The use of this fuel mix aims to reduce costs as well as replace limited resources with more ubiquitous fuel. The idea of using coal to power hypersonic flight was put forward about ten years ago by researchers at the Russian Academy of Sciences, who demonstrated that shocks could be produced using a mixture of coal powder and hydrogen.
Can Coal Propel Hypersonic Aeroplanes? Chinese scientists claim ‘big discovery’ in cutting Mach 5+ travel cost