By South China Morning Post | Created at 2024-11-25 22:21:33 | Updated at 2024-11-26 00:39:06
2 hours ago
Technology developed by Chinese scientists that gives fighter jet engines an unprecedented level of thrust when the afterburner is activated could give the Chinese military the edge in air combat, according to researchers with the Aero Engine Academy of China in Beijing.
According to ground tests, this novel technology boosts the efficiency of afterburning to 99 per cent, matching the fuel efficiency of long-distance cruising conditions. It also reduces engine vibration by 80 per cent under maximum operational loads, thereby minimising the risk of aircraft damage.
When the afterburner is activated, fuel can be directly injected into the exhaust plume without passing through the combustion chamber, providing the aircraft with an instant, substantial additional thrust. However, this also reduces combustion efficiency to around 90 per cent and generates vibrations that may affect engine stability.
The US military stipulates that the afterburner of its latest F-35 stealth fighter can only be used continuously for about a minute to avoid potential damage. Even the more powerful F-22, equipped with two engines, sees fuel consumption triple when the afterburner is activated, with the exhaust plume turning red and occasionally emitting black smoke due to incomplete combustion.
To address these challenges, the team of researchers led by engineer Wang Shiqi invented an innovative fuel nozzle. Pulsed fuel travels along a Z-shaped path within the nozzle and is ejected at different angles.
This design ensures that fuel droplets form a fan shape, enabling better mixing with air.
