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Green Aviation Technology
Green aviation technology includes the activities carried to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, fuel usage, and noise in the environment. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) agency had its experts review the latest technology in green aviation that will reduce the environmental impacts by using alternative fuels and aircraft technology. Aerospace has been considered a polluter of the environment over the years. The introduction of green aviation technology has helped reduce the carbon emitted to the environment. Green aviation aims to decrease the energy consumed by aircraft and minimize the rates of emission and pollution throughout the entire process of testing and manufacturing. The main principle of this technology is to improve the energy efficiency of the aviation industry for environmental, economic, and social benefits. To achieve this goal, technological innovation and alignment of development patterns are the basis. The aviation manufacturing industry is working hard to develop green aviation and minimize gas emissions through various technologies. Green aviation can be achieved through noise reduction, aerodynamics, green fuel, and fuel combustion.
To manage and maintain aviation carbon emissions, there must be programs that will help promote comprehensive and consistent regulations. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has created regulations to ensure aviation safety, efficiency, security, regularity, and environmental protection. The organization has regulated the operation practices covering the aviation field to ensure smooth air transportation across borders.
The ICAO has adopted three significant goals;
Reduce the greenhouse gas emissions in the environment
Reduce the number of aviation emissions
Reduce the number of people being affected by the aircraft noise
Therefore, the ICAO has set standards for the aircraft engine emissions and noise by setting procedures on the proper ways of landing and departure of the aircraft. A committee formed by the ICAO on Aviation Environmental Protection assists in developing new policies related to aircraft noise and gas emissions (International Civil Aviation Organization). The CAEP also evaluates proposed aircraft engines and the development of sustainable aviation fuels to ensure the emission-related levels are achieved. The environmental audit plan is one of the regulations set in the aviation industry to promote green aviation. Implementation of this policy ensures everything in the aircraft conforms with the set standards of solving environmental issues (International Civil Aviation Organization). Fuel consumption data collection through the Aviation Environmental System ensures less carbon dioxide emissions in the environment as the amount of fuel being used is regulated.
On the other hand, market-based measures have helped improve green aviation. The operational measures such as making various adjustments to ensure that the air traffic procedures and technologies are improved have contributed towards reducing the aviation emissions. With the influence of the ICAO, a resolution was made setting out the significant elements of the global scheme to stabilize the carbon dioxide emission levels. This resolution was set to ensure all aircraft keep track of all the gas emissions in all global routes and ensure they purchase better emission units that reduce the number of pollutants released to the environment. Additionally, the aircraft engines are required to have a specified amount of emissions produced to the environment. Therefore, the gasoline and diesel composition of jet fuel is regulated to reduce the amount of gas emitted to the environment and increase efficiency. The Clean Air Act (CAA) sets the air quality standards for the aircraft and ensures the aircraft meets them.
Aviation emissions have a significant impact on the environment. The aviation emissions contain small particulate matter, which, when suspended, remains in the atmosphere for a long time. When these particles are inhaled directly, they may cause a lot of health risks, such as reduced visibility (Federal Aviation Administration). The tiny particles in the atmosphere absorb and reflect light, reducing the visibility rate. Aircraft can cause water pollution due to how the jet fuel is handled. During the cold weather, de-icing fluids often lead to water pollution since these fluids are released to the ground hence ending up in the water. These fluids are often used on the runways, and they are comprised of propylene glycol, which primarily contains potassium acetate chemicals. These chemicals cause detrimental effects, especially when released to water sources. When it comes to the process of degradation of water sources, the chemicals that have been released to the water sources, such as the potassium acetate chemicals, evert a very high demand level for biochemical oxygen. This demand forces the chemicals to consume high oxygen levels from the water sources, thus not leaving up enough oxygen for the aquatic animals. Also, these chemicals reduce the oxygen concentrations, which kills the aquatic organisms as they depend entirely on water oxygen.
Aircraft are a source of noise pollution in the environment. When they land and take off, and when they fly overhead. Noise pollution is experienced especially by people living nearby the airports. The aircraft noise impairs sleep, which affects children’s performance in schools due to the interruptive nature of the noise. The cognitive performance of the children is affected, thus impacting their memory, perception, and attention. Aviation also causes air pollution, which causes ozone. The emitted air from the aircraft can lead to problems in the nervous and respiratory system, thus leading to premature deaths. Also, children’s exposure to these gases may lead to behavioral problems growing up and have lower IQ. Aircraft emit many gases to the atmosphere, which cause climate change. Carbon dioxide is the main greenhouse gas emitted by aircraft. The emission of nitrogen oxides in the troposphere leads to the formation of the ozone layer. When the nitrogen oxide emissions are too concentrated, they result in the global warming effect.
Graph: Wikipedia, Environmental Effects of Aviation
Contrails and cirrus clouds produced by aircraft can also cause climate change (Federal Aviation Administration). When the jet fuel burns, it produces water vapor that forms the contrails when they condense, which causes global warming. With the constant formation of the contrails, cirrus clouds are formed, which also have a global warming effect. Additionally, particulates that are released into the environment by the aircraft affect the clients. The soot particles produced by the jet fuels emit warmth, and as a result, they absorb the heat in the environment. While the soot particles absorb the heat in the atmosphere, sulphate particles produce a cooling effect and reflect radiation. The soot and sulphate particles emitted by the aircrafts form contrails and cirrus clouds which have a huge impact on the environment as they cause a radiative forcing effect. These contrails are formed by using the soot particles as condensation nuclei.
Aerodynamics is an essential strategy that meets the environmental requirements and improves the aircraft’s performance and economy. Through aerodynamics, fuel consumption can be significantly reduced by using state-of-the-art aerodynamics techniques, which reduce drag and improve lift (National Aeronautics and Space Administration). These features reduce the emission of gases and noise by the aircraft and the cost of fuel consumption. The state-of-the-art aerodynamic technique is supported by the laminar flow control, which reduces the effects of large wingtips and vortex. Aerodynamic drag can reduce both fuel consumption and noise pollution.
To reduce noise pollution, green aviation technology has researched the technological ways of reducing noise. The strategies include regulating the amount of air that travels through the engine and the size of the fan blades in the engine (National Aeronautics and Space Administration). Also, the engine’s position affects the amount of noise produced; thus, the engine can be strategically placed to reduce the noise through green aviation technology. The size and number of flaps that aid in maintaining the wing shape have also been reviewed to reduce the noise. The aircraft industry aims to make the aircraft quieter by 50%. Through air traffic management, the industry can map out flights with a lot of noise to avoid places resided by many people. The aircraft can follow specific tracks to ensure whatever track is followed contains fewer people. The noise can also be reduced with the runways and minimized thrust take-off.
Gases emitted from the aircraft are usually released from the engine. Fuel consumption and greenhouse emissions can be hugely reduced by ensuring combustion are efficient and improving engine performance (Gemmer). By optimizing the cycle parameters, the aircraft can reduce the amount of fuel used. Also, combustors design cab be improved through technology to control emissions. Green aviation technology is looking forward to developing open rotor engines and pulse detonation engines that are more efficient and environment-friendly. With the introduction of bio-jet-fuel, the aviation industry can lower the amount of energy consumed and the rates of emissions lowered.
The new aircraft technologies have had a significant impact on the success of green aviation. The technologies have played a role in achieving the aviation environmental and energy goals. With the advanced engine technology, cleaner and quiet aircraft operate more efficiently with less energy (Agarwal). The development of new design engines can help improve fuel efficiency over time. These engines can reduce omissions and, at the same time, reduce the amount of noise produced.
The development of modernized operational procedures improves the energy efficiencies in the industry. Green aviation technologies have enabled aircraft operations to save time and fuel, thus reducing the negative environmental impacts. Reducing fuel consumption reduces the amounts of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere. Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) and Required Navigation Performance (RNP) can help in reducing flight times and fuel consumption. In contrast, Optimized Profile Descents (OPD) can help reduce noise pollution by aircraft.
Graph: The International Council on Clean Transportation, 2016
Also, electric flight movement is a green movement that will help curb emissions as the electric aircraft offer the power-to-weight required to be feasible. The batteries use a considerable amount of fuel and emit many gases, unlike the electrical aircraft, which will not be required to use fuel and emit gasses to the atmosphere. The aircraft will be lighter with less drag and increased efficiency with this innovation.
Aviation biofuel can reduce the amounts of carbon released to the environment. the biofuel from biomass can reduce carbon dioxide emissions as they decarbonize medium and long-haul air travel that generates most of the emissions. Biofuel can also increase the life of older aircraft by lowering their carbon footprint (Lin). Hydrogen-based e-fuels can also be used to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emitted to the environment. Three fuel alternatives have been approved to be used as jet fuel. They include natural gas (Fischer-Tropsch) jet fuel, fat fuel, fuel from greases and plant oils (Hydro processed Esters jet fuel), and fuel from fermented sugar, which is called Synthesized Iso-Paraffins (SIP) jet fuel. Therefore, all these fuels have been certified for use, and some are undervaluation and approval.
Aviation is one of the most critical industries with numerous benefits but harms the environment. The aviation industry has seen the importance of maintaining the environment, and through Green Aviation Technology, this goal can be achieved. Technology plays a significant role in maintaining a safe environment through emissions mitigation. Interestingly, various jet fuels can be made from environment-friendly materials. The use of alternative jet fuel is the best and easy way to curb these emissions. Looking to the future, these strategies implemented can impact the environment positively and reduce the environmental pollution rates significantly. Over time, green aviation technology has improved environmental performance, and its commitment to achieving a green aviation environment will be achieved.
Individuals alone cannot maintain a green aviation environment, and thus the programs, policies, and regulations are taking essential steps to ensure the industry revolves in a conscious environment. It may be challenging to transform to green aviation; the next generation will have super-efficient aircraft, quiet and with lower impacts on the environment. Green technology has increased sustainability in global aviation with reduced emissions. The aviation innovation is predicted to make several stops to achieve its primary goal by ensuring the present needs of the industry are met while ensuring the future generation meets its needs. Aviation is a rapidly growing industry, and thus the innovations should be fast and integrated to fit in the environment. Sustainable air travel is possible if we all unite to make it happen.
Works Cited
Agarwal, R. “Review of technologies to achieve sustainable (green) aviation.” Agarwal, R. Recent advances in aircraft technology. 2012.
Federal Aviation Administration. “Aviation emissions, Impacts and Mitigation: A primer.” report. 2015.
—. “Aviation Emissions, Impacts and Mitigation: A primer.” 2015.
Gemmer, E. “Aviation Sustanability.” project. 2019.
International Civil Aviation Organization. “Regulatory and organizational framework to address aviation emissions.” project. 2017.
—. “Regulatory and Organizational framework to address aviation emissions.” project. 2017.
Lin, Z. “Making aviation green.” Advances in manufacturing (2013): 42-49.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration. “Green Aviation: A better way to treat the planet.” 2013. NASA facts.
—. “Green Aviation: A better way to treat the planet.” 2013. NASA facts.