One Reason Why Aerospace Needs Geologists: How Mineral Dust Damages Engines
| Dates: | 23 March 2021 |
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| Times: | 13:00 - 14:00 |
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| What is it: | Seminar |
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| Organiser: | Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences |
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| Who is it for: | University staff, Adults, Alumni, Current University students |
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| Speaker: | Dr Rory Clarkson |
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Dr Rory Clarkson, Rolls Royce, joins us for a Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences seminar. Abstract below.
Sand and mineral dust is increasingly becoming a problem for jet engine powered aviation, costing billions of dollars’ worth of damage, increased fuel burn and delayed or cancelled flights. These problems are being driven primarily by four factors: To improve fuel efficiency jet engines are becoming more complex – i.e. more sophisticated technology is incorporated – and their cores are operating at higher temperatures. Trends in global travel and commerce, in addition to existing North American and European airline hubs, have led to the establishment of busy hubs in the Middle East, South Asia and East Asia, which are prone to hot and dusty environments. Climate change is making dusty conditions at previously dust free airports more widespread. And fourthly, narrow profit margins make airlines less willing to sit out dusty conditions until they go away; airlines want to fly in conditions they previously would have stayed grounded for. The first factor is making engines more vulnerable to mineral dust; the other three are increasing the level of exposure. This talk will briefly explain the various ways in which mineral dust damages engines, and why the composition and nature of dust is an important factor; not all dusts are made equal when it comes to jet engine damage. It will then go on to explain where the level of knowledge has got to, particularly how geologists have contributed to this understanding. But many gaps in the knowledge remain. The final part of the presentation will describe the work that remains to be done.
Speaker
Dr Rory Clarkson
Organisation: Rolls Royce
Travel and Contact Information
Find event
Zoom
Williamson Building
Manchester
