Cleaner aircraft engines thanks to Swiss technology
Empa, the FOCA and SR Technics have jointly developed a method to measure particulate matter from aircraft engines. This paves the way for emission regulations.
Since the 1980s, large aircraft engines have had to comply with pollutant limits, which have been gradually tightened over the years. As a result, the pollutant contribution from air traffic in Switzerland is relatively low today, and the days when jet engines left behind plumes of smoke visible from afar are also a thing of the past. What has not been solved, however, is the emission of ultrafine particles by jet engines. These microscopic particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and thus have negative effects on health. In accordance with the precautionary principle, these emissions from air traffic are now also to be measured, regulated and reduced, even though air traffic in Switzerland only accounts for less than 1 percent of particulate emissions.
Measuring ultrafine dust particles from aircraft engines is technically extremely demanding. In close cooperation between Empa, SR Technics and the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA), experts have spent years developing a test rig and a method for standardized measurement of fine dust emissions from aircraft engines. Both the measurement system and the instrumentation were tested to operational readiness in international campaigns. In addition to the mass of the particles, the measurement system also provides the number of particles emitted per liter of fuel. Even the smallest particles with a diameter of less than one hundred thousandth of a millimeter are recorded.
Work on the new global standard was led by the FOCA in partnership with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. The Environmental Panel of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) adopted the standard, which was developed in large part by FOCA, SR Technics and Empa, on February 2 in Montreal. (we reported) Final adoption by the ICAO Council is expected in one year.
All types of engines for passenger aircraft in production from January 1, 2020 onwards must be certified in accordance with the new regulation. Most engine manufacturers now have their own measurement systems that comply with the regulations and have begun to re-measure their engines. Technologies for further reducing particulate emissions are also already known.
(Empa)
