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Did someone say plasma airplane wings? How cool is that...
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/next/space/plasma-air-control/
We just watched moving air being controlled by plasma, the lesser-known, fourth state of matter which also exists in the blistering core of our sun. And while such lab demonstrations are both uncanny and awe-inspiring, these so-called plasma actuators could produce far more impressive benefits in the real world, especially for the aviation and wind power industries, and maybe even the trucking business.
On airplane wings, for example, tiny plasma actuators could help planes fly more safely, more efficiently, and with greater stability and control. They can speed, slow or divert air flows in ways that can cut drag, fuel use, and CO2 emissions by as much as 25%, researchers estimate. Some experts even think that these devices might someday replace conventional flight control surfaces such as flaps and ailerons. Imagine witnessing the ghoulish purple glow of the lab demo from the window seat of a transcontinental flight.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 27 2016, @10:55AM
They can speed, slow or divert air flows in ways that can cut drag, fuel use, and CO2 emissions by as much as 25%, researchers estimate.
So they think they can cut CO2 by 25% using plasma? Plasma isn't free and requires quite a bit of energy, especially when exposed to the edge of a wing while a plane is flying.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 27 2016, @11:10AM
what do you mean "quite a bit of energy"? lighting a flame on the side of the wing would certainly use much less fuel than running the engines.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 27 2016, @11:30AM
what do you mean "quite a bit of energy"? lighting a flame on the side of the wing would certainly use much less fuel than running the engines.
Because "Fly with us, our planes are constantly on fire!" is not much of a sales pitch, so a more elaborate implementation is required :)
(Score: 4, Funny) by Marand on Saturday August 27 2016, @12:57PM
Because "Fly with us, our planes are constantly on fire!" is not much of a sales pitch, so a more elaborate implementation is required :)
Are you kidding? That sounds fucking awesome!
"Thank you for flying Epic Air, where the planes are always on fire! I'll be your pilot for this trip, and I am metal as fuck! Please place all seats in the upright position and begin headbanging during takeoff." [heavy metal guitar solo plays]
(Score: 1) by khallow on Saturday August 27 2016, @03:40PM
(Score: 2) by mhajicek on Monday August 29 2016, @05:44AM
All planes are on fire when the engines are running.
The spacelike surfaces of time foliations can have a cusp at the surface of discontinuity. - P. Hajicek
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 27 2016, @11:36AM
While flying the wind velocity passing over the plasma is going to cool it considerably. It's going to take fuel to keep it burning hot enough to be effective. But like the other poster said "our planes are constantly on fire!" is going to be a tough sell.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 27 2016, @06:47PM
Too many people have taken the content of Fristy's wrong-headed comment and run with it.
In our application (mobile emissions control), we wanted our plasma generator to produce a strong electric field.
Any -heat- generated was WASTE.
There are also terrestrial plasma generators [google.com] which also see heat as unwanted.
-- OriginalOwner_ [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 27 2016, @06:14PM
Exactly this.
Terrestrial plasma generators have a bit more leeway WRT efficiency.
The first consideration with mobile plasma generators is how much of the fuel they consume to get the task done.
To get there, what you need to do is form the plasma using a series of skinny pulses.
I was involved in a plasma project (reducing diesel emissions, so the CO2 thing in TFS strikes a chord with me).
The trick for us was to make the leading edge as steep as possible (under 100nSec while generating over 10kV) because that's where the important stuff was happening, then turn off the pulse as quickly as possible.
Increase the repetition rate of the pulse train as the speed (volume) of the gas intersecting the plasma increases.
With an airliner traveling at over 400mph, it seems there would be an appreciable consumption of energy.
-- OriginalOwner_ [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 3, Funny) by Username on Saturday August 27 2016, @07:36PM
Don’t worry, if they run out of plasma mid-flight they’ll just have to ask passengers to donate.