Computational experiments for improving Fungine, the ultimate engine for future cars and spacecraft
Tue, Aug 30, 2016-
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A group of researchers led by Professor Ken Naitoh from the Department of Applied Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering at the School of Fundamental Science and Engineering has conducted computational experiments for improving the performance of a single lightweight engine under development known as Fugine.
If realized, this engine would be capable of operating over wide range of Mach numbers, from start up to the hypersonic regime, with much higher thermal efficiency compared to conventional engines due to less heat loss on walls and low noise. This means that thermal efficiency of cars and motorcycles installed with Fugine will double, resulting in much higher fuel efficiency as well. Researchers are also excited by the prospects of the Fugine, which is much less expensive than batteries, to generate electric power. Furthermore, Fugine could potentially be used in high performing, lightweight spacecraft in the future.
The research was presented at the Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan’s Annual Spring Congress (May 25 – 27) and at the 52nd AIAA/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference (July 25 – 27), and was published in the Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan summary paper of technical session presentations, and in American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics paper 2016-4709 (Computational experiments for improving the performance of Fugine based on supermulti-jets colliding working for a wide range of speeds from start up to hypersonic condition).
