Engineers can often use small-scale models to test the physics of their creations, but sometimes there’s no substitute for going large. In this photo, we see a full-size commercial engine used on an airplane, mounted at the Instituto Nacional de Tecnica Aeroespacial (INTA) in Madrid.
Behind the engine, in red, is an optical rig used for a brand-new measurement technique that allows engineers to directly measure the carbon dioxide emissions of the engine as it runs. The optical frame is 7 meters in diameter and uses 126 beams of near-infrared laser light to probe the engine’s exhaust without interrupting the flow. It’s the first chemically specific imaging of a full-scale gas turbine like those found on commercial aircraft. Given the high carbon emissions associated with air travel, the technique will be important for engineers building greener aircraft engines. (Image and research credit: A. Upadhyay et al.; via The Engineer; submitted by Simon H.)
