Faster than the look

2000/04/25 Roa Zubia, Guillermo - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Materialak
• Patenteak/Asmakizunak

The latest news from Japan refers to an airplane. The main novelty of this aircraft is the engine, the Hypersonic Transport Propulsion System (HYPR) of Hysonic Transport. This is a new design that will be used by the new generation of aircraft. It has been announced that it will fly five times the speed of sound (Mach 5). This is an ambitious project developed in a branch of the International Ministry of Industry and Trade of Japan dedicated to Energy and Industrial Technology.

Kawasaki, Mitsubishi and Ishikawajima-Harima have collaborated in the manufacture of the bike. The main idea has been to place two types of motors behind each other. The first is the typical turboy. But at the exit has the ramy glued. Thus, what one strip is used as food for the other.

As long as the Mach 3 speed (triple the speed of sound) is not reached, only the turbojet will push the plane. From there the ramjet effect will gradually be added. A complex valve system has been developed to move from one situation to another.

Turbojet takes air, compresses and directs burning to the camera. It injects fuel and generates gases that give impetus to the plane. Ramjet has no moving components. The captured air is simply enough to carry out the process.

Material Technology

If the strength of both is added, the Mach 5 is expected to arrive. However, the main problem is the gas temperature at the turbojet outlet. When Mach 3 arrives the gas at 1700ºC and Mach at 5, at 1900ºC. Therefore, the main challenge of this design is the material of the ramjet.

This project began ten years ago. This plane, which will fly 20,000 meters, does not know when it will be finished. Work requires great international cooperation. What is clear is that, at such a speed, the road from Tokyo to New York can be done in three hours. A revolution for countries like Japan or the United States.

Currently working with engine prototypes. According to HYPR, the engine could be quieter and produce less pollution. National experts work for this at the business level. And new plans are being studied to reduce these factors. On the other hand, and since the engine in general is finished, what is missing is to design and perform the fuselage of the plane.

This time, this plane can make a great competition to the famous Concorde.