IISc.’s nozzle can reduce aerial noise
Frequent flyers, air crew and those living near runways will tell you that noise pollution is not only a terrestrial phenomenon: it can come from air traffic too. At over 180 decibels, aircraft engine exhaust can be an ordeal — and a health hazard — for those in proximity to the aircraft.
A solution, however, might in the horizon, thanks to researchers at the Indian Institute of Science. A “nozzle” developed by a team from the Department of Aerospace Engineering could reduce noise significantly, they say in a paper in the journal, Applied Thermal Engineering.
The nozzle works by slowing down the hot, high-energy aviation fuel exhaust, explained co-author Gopalan Jagdeesh, professor at the department.
“In a conventional cone-shaped nozzle, the exhaust is released with massive momentum, carrying huge energy and creating noise. But the new nozzle [shaped like petals] allows the exhaust to spread and get assimilated quickly into the cold atmosphere,” he told The Hindu.
New-age fridges too
In fact, the new nozzle saw a doubling of the rate of exhaust assimilation into the ambient air, according to the paper. The device does more than just make airplanes quieter, it improves the engine performance, said Prof. Jagdeesh.
The nozzle also has potential applications in creating eco-friendly refrigerators, air-conditioners and other devices that involve the rapid cooling of air.
Health concerns
“One of the key concerns of the aircraft industry is noise from jet exhaust. There is a tremendous push towards design of quieter engines.
Busy airports experience very high noise levels that can be harmful to human hearing over long run and affects residents close to such airports,” said lead author of the paper Srisha Rao in a press release.
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