COMPRESSIBLE FLOW AND PROPULSION SYSTEM(CFPS)

COMPLEX ENGINEERING PROBLEM(CEP)

NAME: MUHAMMAD USMAN

ROLL NO: ME-19224
SECTION: F
COURSE CODE: ME-417
BATCH: 2019
SUBMITTED TO: SIR ZAIN SHAHID
DEPARTMENT: MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
1. PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:
Air travel is a crucial mode of transportation, but it comes with a cost of environmental
pollution. The carbon emissions from the combustion of jet fuel in aircraft engines
contribute significantly to global warming and climate change. As a result, there is a growing
need to minimize the environmental impact of air travel.
Aircraft engines based on the Brayton Cycle use jet fuel for combustion, which ultimately
produces carbon emissions. Commercial aircraft, such as Airbus A310, A320, A330, A380,
Boeing 777, 747, 737, etc., are widely used for air travel. The task is to determine the
number of emissions generated by one of the mentioned aircraft when it travels from
Karachi to Peshawar, considering the altitude of 32,000 ft. The amount of CO2 generated
from the combustion of jet fuel needs to be estimated, and the number of trees required to
absorb that amount of CO2. The students should also provide sustainable solutions to
address the issue of emissions.
2. Constraints/Assumptions
I. The plane flies at an altitude of 32,000 ft.
ii. The solution should be according to real-world scenarios.
iii. The student must select jet fuel and tree from the appropriate choices.
3. Computational/Modern Tool Requirements
The thermodynamic analysis should be carried on EES (Engineering Equation Solver)
4. Expected Outcomes
Students are expected to demonstrate their understanding of the environmental impact of
aircraft emissions and to propose sustainable solutions to mitigate this impact. They should
provide detailed calculations of the amount of CO2 generated by the aircraft, the number of
trees required to absorb that CO2, and the planting locations and tree species that would be
most effective. They should also propose viable solutions to reduce aircraft emissions and
mitigate their impact on the environment.

2. SOLUTION:
To provide a comprehensive analysis, let's consider an example with hypothetical values and
walk through the steps outlined earlier.

Step 1: Estimating CO2 Emissions:

Assuming the distance between Karachi and Peshawar to be approximately 1,000
kilometres, we'll estimate the fuel burn rate based on an average value of 11,000 kg of jet
fuel per hour for the Boeing 777.
Considering the flight duration for the Karachi to Peshawar route, which typically takes
around 1 hour and 40 minutes (100 minutes), we can estimate the total fuel burned during
this flight:

Fuel burned = Fuel burn rate x Flight duration

Fuel burned = 11,000 kg/hour x (100 minutes / 60 minutes)
Fuel burned = 18,333 kg of jet fuel
The combustion of jet fuel emits approximately 3.15 kg of CO2 per kg of fuel burned.
Therefore, the estimated CO2 emissions for this flight would be:
CO2 emissions = Fuel burned x CO2 emission factor
CO2 emissions = 18,333 kg x 3.15 kg CO2/kg fuel
CO2 emissions = 57,749.95 kg or approximately 57.7 metric tons of CO2

Step 2: Determining the Number of Trees Required:

Now, let's determine the number of trees required to absorb this amount of CO2. On
average, a mature tree can absorb around 22 kg of CO2 per year. However, this absorption
rate varies depending on various factors such as tree species, age, and environmental
conditions.
Considering an average absorption rate of 22 kg of CO2 per tree per year, we can estimate
the number of trees required:
CO2 emissions
Number of trees =
CO2 absorption per tree per year
57,749.95 kg
Number of trees =
22 kg/tree/year
Number of trees = 2,624.09 or approximately 2,625 trees
Therefore, approximately 2,625 trees would be required to absorb the CO2 emissions
generated by the Boeing 777 aircraft during a one-way flight from Karachi to Peshawar.

Step 3: Selecting Tree Species and Planting Locations:

For the purpose of this example, let's consider planting a mix of native tree species with high
carbon sequestration rates, such as Oak, Maple, and Pine. The selection of planting locations
should consider areas with available space, favourable soil conditions, and local
environmental needs. Planting trees in urban areas, parks, and reforestation projects can
have a positive impact on air quality and urban heat island effect mitigation.
Step 4: Sustainable Solutions to Mitigate Emissions:
1. Improve aircraft fuel efficiency: Invest in research and development to design more fuel-
efficient aircraft and engines. This can be achieved through advancements in
aerodynamics, lightweight materials, and engine technology.

2. Use sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs): SAFs, which are made from renewable sources like
biofuels or synthetic fuels, should be used more often. Comparing SAFs to traditional jet
fuels, a considerable reduction in carbon emissions can be achieved.

3. Carbon offset programs: By making investments in efforts like reforestation programs or

renewable energy projects that minimize greenhouse gas emissions, airlines can take
part in carbon offset schemes. This reduces the emissions brought on by air travel.

4. Air traffic management: By using more effective flight planning and direct routing,
sophisticated air traffic management systems can optimize flight routes, ease traffic, and
cut fuel usage.

3. CONCLUSION:
In conclusion, air travel is essential for getting around, but it also adds to environmental
pollution because of the carbon emissions produced when jet fuel is burned. We computed
the CO2 emissions to be around 57.7 metric tons to estimate the emissions produced by a
Boeing 777 aircraft on a flight from Karachi to Peshawar at an altitude of 32,000 ft.
Approximately 2,625 trees would have to be planted in order for these emissions to be
mitigated. It's crucial to remember that a number of variables might affect how quickly trees
absorb carbon dioxide.
There are a number of eco-friendly alternatives that can be used to address the issue of
emissions in air travel. These include enhancing aviation fuel efficiency, utilizing
environmentally friendly aviation fuels, and integrating cutting-edge.