Solution’s Advantages and Impact
Turbines. The design’s simplicity for fans should be commensurate to customer cost sensitivities for the application. While the technology’s extension to propellers and fans seems perfectly feasible, its application to turbines is more challenging. Beyond these simpler instantiations, applying EMCP to turbojets, turbofans, turboprops, etc. powered by gas or hydrogen is incredibly enticing. For some of these applications, the extreme temperatures would destroy the essential components of EMCP. While abandoning turbojets due to these limitations, there seems to be a range of turbines for which the technology could provide significant advantages (e.g. cryogenic turbo pumps).
Also, if the EMCP mechanism can be kept out of the gas stream with an insert to transfer axial force to the turbine blades, an EMCP turbine could be practical. This might be feasible for an M1 Abrams retrofit or other ground vehicle applications whose prime mover is a turbine. Where Chrysler’s turbine car failed in the 1960’s due to a lack of acceleration, a revitalized turbine based on EMCP might be the necessary curative. Other turbine-driven automobile attempts have been made such as the turbine motorcycle from MTT.
In contrast to the extreme heat of turbofans/jets, the cryogenic conditions in the turbopump of rockets would be eminently suited to the technology.