NOT what you think! Contrails
Mentour Now!・2 minutes read
Aircraft contrails have an environmental impact due to the formation of visible clouds caused by a drop in pressure, with Google using AI to predict and avoid contrail formation. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) can reduce contrails by 50 to 70%, and Boeing, NASA, DLR, and General Electric are testing SAF to compare with regular jet fuel.
Insights
- Contrails created by aircraft result from a combination of exhaust gases and water vapor freezing into ice crystals due to a drop in pressure, forming visible clouds that can trap heat in the atmosphere.
- Google's AI technology, in collaboration with American Airlines, has shown a significant reduction in persistent contrails by predicting and avoiding areas where they are likely to form, while sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) has proven to reduce contrails by 50 to 70% and produce larger ice crystals that melt faster, showcasing promising environmental advancements in aviation.
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Recent questions
How do contrails form behind aircraft?
Contrails are formed by the combination of exhaust gases and water vapor freezing into ice crystals due to a drop in pressure, causing water vapor to condense. They do not form immediately but take a few seconds to develop, especially at low speeds.
What is the environmental impact of contrails?
Contrails can have a negative environmental effect by trapping heat in the atmosphere. Google is working on using AI to predict and avoid areas where contrails are likely to form to reduce their impact, estimating a 0.3% extra fuel burn across an airline's fleet from avoiding contrail formation.
How is sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) made?
SAF is made from alternative sources like used oils, dedicated crops, or captured carbon dioxide mixed with green hydrogen. Using SAF has shown a reduction in contrails by 50 to 70% and resulted in larger ice crystals that melted faster, contributing to environmental sustainability in aviation.
What are aircraft manufacturers doing to reduce contrail formation?
Aircraft manufacturers are conducting tests using alternative fuels like SAF to reduce the creation of soot that leads to contrails. They plan to replace seals and parts in fuel systems to accommodate the use of SAF, which is currently limited to 50% due to missing aromatic hydrocarbons.
How is hydrogen being explored as a fuel source for airliners?
Airbus is preparing to test a hydrogen combustion demonstrator on an Airbus A380 to assess the impact on contrail formation and explore the potential of hydrogen as a fuel source for airliners. This initiative aims to reduce the environmental impact of aviation by exploring alternative fuel options.
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Summary
00:00
"Google AI Reduces Aircraft Contrail Impact"
- Contrails created by aircraft have been a topic of interest due to their environmental impact.
- Aircraft can create visible clouds due to condensation forming above the wing, especially at low speeds.
- The formation of visible clouds is due to a drop in pressure causing water vapor to condense.
- Contrails are formed by the combination of exhaust gases and water vapor freezing into ice crystals.
- Contrails do not form immediately but take a few seconds to develop.
- Contrails can have a negative environmental effect by trapping heat in the atmosphere.
- Google is working on using AI to predict and avoid areas where contrails are likely to form to reduce their environmental impact.
- The extra fuel burn from avoiding contrail formation is estimated to be around 0.3% across an airline's fleet.
- Google's AI tools aim to suggest altitudes to avoid creating persistent contrails, potentially reducing their impact.
- Google's collaboration with American Airlines showed a 54% reduction in persistent contrails using their predictive models.
13:32
"Sustainable Aviation Fuel Reduces Contrails and Soot"
- Google found that using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) reduced contrails by 50 to 70% and resulted in larger ice crystals that melted faster.
- SAF is made from alternative sources like used oils, dedicated crops, or captured carbon dioxide mixed with green hydrogen.
- Boeing, NASA, DLR, and General Electric are conducting tests using a Boeing 737 MAX 10 with Leap 1B High Bypass Engines to compare SAF and regular jet fuel.
- SAF contains fewer aromatic hydrocarbons, reducing the creation of soot that leads to contrails.
- Aircraft manufacturers plan to replace seals and parts in fuel systems to accommodate the use of SAF, which is currently limited to 50% due to missing aromatic hydrocarbons.
- Airbus is preparing to test a hydrogen combustion demonstrator on an Airbus A380 to assess the impact on contrail formation and explore the potential of hydrogen as a fuel source for airliners.
