Direct Injection Igniter Fuel Nozzle Could Eliminate AV
Fuel
A bevy of "names that you know" were on hand for the
announcement Wednesday of Thomas Ehresman as the winner for the
2007 Lindbergh-Lycoming Grant for his research into a new
direct injection igniter fuel nozzle that would eliminate the need
for leaded aviation fuel.
Foundation Chairman John and his wife Martha King; Ian Walsh,
senior vice president of Lycoming Engines; and Eric Lindbergh spoke
about the Charles A. and Anne Morrow Lindbergh Foundation, the
grant program, and the need to continue to tackle environmental and
educational issues.
"We need to move the industry forward while also balancing
conservation and the environment, said John King.
This is the second Lindbergh-Lycoming grant awarded is the
newly-established partnership between Lycoming Engines and the
Lindbergh Foundation to specifically fund a project focusing on
aviation/aerospace.
As many pilots know, aviation gasoline is the only fuel in the
world that still contains lead; soon, 100-octant low lead aircraft
fuel (100LL) will be discontinued because of the highly toxic
tetra-ethyl-lead (TEL) that is added at the refinery.
Current high performance aircraft piston engines require 100LL
to operate without failure at higher power settings. And with the
move to unleaded fuels fast approaching and other options for these
engines not available without their incurring damage or greatly
decreasing operations limitations, inventor Ehresman is working on
a solution.
Hailing from Loveland, CO, Ehresman will be using the
Lindbergh-Lycoming grant money to continue developing a direct
injection fuel nozzle system that would allow numerous types of
fuels to be used on current high-performance aircraft piston
engines, including jet fuel, diesel, kerosene, and other liquid
fuels.
Elimination of TEL will not only improve the air quality as lead
is removed from fuel emissions, but would allow refineries to
consolidate refining operations and reduce fuel infrastructures,
further reducing harmful emissions, risk of spills/pipeline lead
and lower consumer fuel prices.
Ehresman, who holds a degree in engineering and a love of
aviation, received one of 14 Lindbergh grants awarded so far this
year, the most grants issued by the Foundation since 1985. Ehresman
was selected from 150 applicants from around the world. The grants
are for $10,580, a symbolic amount representing the cost of
building Charles Lindbergh's plane, the Spirit of St. Louis, in
1927. To date, more than $2.7 million has been awarded to 284
researchers.
At the same
presentation, the Foundation announced with that the continuing
partnership with Lycoming Engines, the Lindbergh-Lycoming Grant
will be offered again in 2008.
"The Lindbergh Foundation is extremely grateful for Lycoming's
partnership with this program. Their involvement ha enabled the
Foundation to generate a renewed interest in aviation applications
for our grants programs and has revitalized the Foundation's
position in the aviation community," said Foundation Director John
King, co-chairman of King Schools.
While the size of the grant is small, said King, the effect is
leveraged. "We hear over and over again from our grant recipients
that the Lindbergh Grant is extremely beneficial to the success of
their projects."
"We are very pleased that Lycoming Engines understands that
supporting the Lindbergh Foundation and its grants program benefits
the aviation industry as well."
Said Lycoming's Ian Walsh, "The Lindbergh-Lycoming grant
promotes advancements in aviation and also the conservation of the
environment. We want to bring innovative ideas and technology to
the general aviation community to help grow our industry. This
grant creates opportunities for environmentally friendly options to
be explored."
Applications for the 2008 Lindbergh-Lycoming grant is open to
anyone conducting an aviation/aerospace research project that will
improve the quality of all life by balancing technological
advancements with the preservation of the environment. The deadline
for applications is November 1, 2007. Applications are available on
the Foundation's Web site.