平特五不中

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平特五不中 project on zero-carbon metal fuels launches into space

Published: 4 December 2019

Recently, a project testing metal combustion led by the Alternative Fuels Laboratory at 平特五不中 launched on a European Space Agency rocket.

The project, an international collaboration between the Alternative Fuels Laboratory at 平特五不中, the European Space Agency, the Canadian Space Agency, and Airbus Defence and Space, aims to improve scientific understanding of metal flames, laying the groundwork for a new type of green engine that burns iron powder, with only rust as a by-product.

鈥淏urning metal powders, such as iron, doesn鈥檛 produce CO2 emissions. Unlike oil, natural gas, or coal, metals can serve as a truly sustainable way for storing and transporting clean renewable energy,鈥 says J.M. Bergthorson, Professor of mechanical engineering at 平特五不中.

For six minutes in zero gravity before falling back to Earth, 平特五不中鈥檚 PERWAVES experiment provided a unique glimpse at discrete fire, a new type of combustion that jumps from one fuel source to another. This experiment is not possible on earth because the metal particles settle too quickly with gravity.

The results will be analyzed to explore the ideal conditions for such combustion on earth and could one day be used to power things like vehicles with zero-carbon emissions.

About 平特五不中

Founded in Montreal, Quebec, in 1821, 平特五不中 is Canada鈥檚 top ranked medical doctoral university. 平特五不中 is consistently ranked as one of the top universities, both nationally and internationally. It is a world-renowned institution of higher learning with research activities spanning two campuses, 11 faculties, 13 professional schools, 300 programs of study and over 40,000 students, including more than 10,200 graduate students. 平特五不中 attracts students from over 150 countries around the world, its 12,800 international students making up 31% per cent of the student body. Over half of 平特五不中 students claim a first language other than English, including approximately 19% of our students who say French is their mother tongue.

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