MIT and Sharrow Marine's Toroidal Propellors Operate Silently
Colin Smith — January 27, 2023 — Autos
References: sharrowmarine & newatlas
Toroidal propellers are a new and innovative design that has the potential to revolutionize the aviation and marine sectors. These propellers are shaped like twisted-toroid rings, and have been shown to be significantly quieter and more efficient than traditional propellers. This could be a game-changer for the aviation industry, where noise pollution is a major concern for residents and lawmakers.
The research team at MIT's Lincoln Laboratory has been working on developing toroidal propellers for multicopter drones. They found that the twisted-toroid shape of the propellers effectively distributes the vortices that are generated by the propeller across the whole shape of it, instead of just at the tip. This makes the vortices dissipate faster in the atmosphere, resulting in much less noise pollution.
The toroidal propellers also showed significant efficiency gains, with the team's best-performing B160 design not only operating quieter, but also with significantly more thrust at any set energy input level. This is significant given the early stage of development of these toroidal propellors.
In the marine sector, these propellers can be used on boats, ships and submarines. The twisted-toroid shape of the propellers creates a much smoother flow of water, resulting in less drag and more efficient propulsion. This means that boats and ships using toroidal propellers would consume less fuel and produce less emissions, making them more environmentally friendly.
Overall, toroidal propellers are a promising technology that could have a significant impact on the aviation and marine sectors. The potential for noise reduction, efficiency gains, and environmental benefits make them a technology worth watching in the future.
Image Credit: MIT, Sharrow Marine
The research team at MIT's Lincoln Laboratory has been working on developing toroidal propellers for multicopter drones. They found that the twisted-toroid shape of the propellers effectively distributes the vortices that are generated by the propeller across the whole shape of it, instead of just at the tip. This makes the vortices dissipate faster in the atmosphere, resulting in much less noise pollution.
The toroidal propellers also showed significant efficiency gains, with the team's best-performing B160 design not only operating quieter, but also with significantly more thrust at any set energy input level. This is significant given the early stage of development of these toroidal propellors.
In the marine sector, these propellers can be used on boats, ships and submarines. The twisted-toroid shape of the propellers creates a much smoother flow of water, resulting in less drag and more efficient propulsion. This means that boats and ships using toroidal propellers would consume less fuel and produce less emissions, making them more environmentally friendly.
Overall, toroidal propellers are a promising technology that could have a significant impact on the aviation and marine sectors. The potential for noise reduction, efficiency gains, and environmental benefits make them a technology worth watching in the future.
Image Credit: MIT, Sharrow Marine
Trend Themes
1. Toroidal Propellors - A potential disruptive innovation opportunity for the aviation industry in terms of noise pollution reduction and energy-efficiency with the use of Toroidal propellers for multicopter drones.
2. Efficient Propulsion - A potential disruptive innovation opportunity for the marine industry in terms of fuel consumption reduction and improved energy efficiency with the use of toroidal propellers on boats, ships, and submarines.
3. Environmentally-friendly Propulsion - A potential disruptive innovation opportunity for the marine industry in terms of reduced carbon emissions with the application of toroidal propellers.
Industry Implications
1. Aviation Industry - Toroidal propellers have the potential to disrupt the aviation industry by providing a solution to noise pollution reduction and energy efficiency for multicopter drones.
2. Marine Industry - The marine industry can benefit from toroidal propellers, as they offer a significant opportunity to improve energy efficiency in propulsion systems when used on boats, ships, and submarines.
3. Propulsion Industry - Innovations in propulsion technology, such as the toroidal propellers, can disrupt the industry by contributing to more efficient and environmentally-friendly solutions for transportation systems.
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