China has presented a revolutionary technological advance that could transform the future of aircrafts and aviation in general. The country has revealed the first plasma jet engine in the world that works with no hydrogen nor batteries and the great thing about it is that it doesn’t produce fossil fuel emissions nor releases polluting chemical products.
This project, considered a zero-emission aviation initiative, was led by professor Jau Tang and his research team from the University of Wuhan. The innovation is based on the use of microwave technology and plasma physics instead of traditional combustion methods. So, let’s learn more about this futuristic project, shall we?
The future of jet propulsion systems
Most current jet engines depend on burning fuel through internal combustion. This process releases massive amounts of carbon dioxide, contributing heavily to global warming. However, Tang’s new plasma jet engine aims to reduce carbon emissions from the aviation industry — one of the most polluting sectors in the world.
Tang’s prototype doesn’t burn any fuel at all. Instead, it uses compressed atmospheric air and exposes it to microwaves at a frequency of 2.45 GHz, which is similar to the frequency used in microwave ovens. When the air is hit by these microwaves, electrons are stripped away from the atoms, creating plasma. This ionized gas, or plasma, behaves like a high-energy fluid. It produces jet thrust — the force that allows an aircraft to move forward — but without any combustion.
In early tests, Tang’s prototype was strong enough to lift a one-kilogram steel ball vertically. Many researchers have said that the level of thrust produced by this small engine could one day be comparable to that of smaller commercial jet engines.
Plasma physics and the future of aircraft propulsion
Plasma is known as the fourth state of matter, after solid, liquid and gas. It’s formed when the atoms receive so much energy that their electrons separate. For years, scientists have studied plasma for space projects and NASA has invested a lot in propulsion based on plasma for spacecraft.
What makes Tang’s work so unique is that it seeks to use plasma inside the Earth’s atmosphere, not only in space. His team designed a system that can work in normal air conditions by ionizing air with microwave energy to generate thrust.
This type of engine requires a powerful source of electric energy, preferable from renewable energies like solar on wind ones. In the future, these plasma jet engines could replace combustion turbines in airplanes and drones, allowing for carbon-free propulsion and a completely fuel-free flight system.
A revolutionary step for the aviation industry
The aviation sector is one of the most responsible for the global emissions of CO₂, so a design like the one from Tang could make a huge difference. Finding alternatives to engines that use kerosene is fundamental to reach the aim of net-zero emissions and plasma propulsion may be one of the most promising answers.
In comparison to engines that work with hydrogen or batteries, Tang’s plasma engine doesn’t depend on energy storage systems that have major limitations. Hydrogen requires expensive infrastructure and is difficult to store safely, and batteries are heavy and offer limited range, especially for long-haul flights. So, by avoiding both, Tang’s engine sidesteps the major drawbacks of other “green” aviation technologies.
Challenges of the new plasma aircraft technology
Even though the idea is revolutionary, Tang’s design still faces huge technical challenges. For now, the engine is only a prototype and it needs a constant and powerful source of electricity to generate enough thrust for large aircraft.
So, getting this system to move a commercial aircraft will require major advances in energy generation and storage. However, Tang and his team see their success so far as a first step in a long journey toward a cleaner future for flight. Even with these challenges, the idea of an aircraft that can fly without burning fuel, producing smoke, or releasing carbon into the air represents a huge leap for aviation.