posted on Feb, 6 2016 @ 05:09 PM
Cranford University has come up with a technology that EasyJet is going to test out to essentially take the regenerative braking system, somewhat like
what a car uses, to store energy (in the form of hydrogen as I understand) to offset 4% of the fuel used by airliners to taxi on the ground, if the
article is to be believed.
I have to wonder if its really worth it: 4%? Really? For the increased maintenance? Why not capture the energy of the exhaust (some at least)
through the use of
thermoelectric means instead? There's lots of waste heat and by
the time an airliner reaches the next locale, there ought to be more energy stored than merely regen breaking could do...I mean, there's LOTS of
wasted thermal energy in a jet engine and thermoelectrics don't have moving parts...
What do you folks think?