Introduction
The purpose of this project is to outline a framework to ensure the sustainability of UK aircraft carrier. It outlines some of the challenges that face the industry. Additionally, it presents a framework which can be used to address these challenges. The project also highlights a measurement regime which can be used to assess the proposed framework. Mainstream media have repetitively documented the impact of seaway transport and their eco-efficiency concerning a sustainable future. By minimizing operation and manufacturing impacts, airbus aims at optimizing their services and product towards an eco-efficient technology to minimize their environmental impact. Throughout the aircraft carrier industry, major improvement in the reduction of water consumption and energy, Volatile organic compound (VOC), waste production, and CO2 emission have been achieved.
Aircraft carrier course account for 40 percent fuel use, which greatly contributes to the climate change through the impact of CO2 and water consumption methods, thus the group of company is mandated to reduce their emission in a cost-effective manner as well as water consumption to achieve sustainable development in the future (Gössling and Upham 2009). Even though CO2 remain an issue to tackle within the sea transport industry, measures such as market forces and technological development are helping mitigate concerned issues with sustainable development toward eco-efficient aircraft carrier. Environmental agendas over the past year have been developed by the aviation industry to champion for environmental sustainability. Despite the growing seaway transport industry, which entails an increase in, VOC, waste production and CO2 emission, aircraft industries promote joint initiative across the defense ministry as well as the aerospace industries to optimize the general environmental operation in the most logical manner and efficient means.
During the halcyon ages of marine steam engine, a lot of concern was to improve the propulsion of the aircraft carriers, but with the advent of environmental commissions and lobby groups in the wake of the twenty-first century (Goetz and Graham 2004), more concern was directed to the reduction of CO2 emission consequently fuel-efficient combustion strategies (Budd, and Howarth 2013). Currently, sustainability is seen as vital for the future extension and not just an aspiration.
Cutting the carbon footprint by half from the benchmark is the target estimated by the international Air Transport Association (IATA) over the next 35 years within the air transport industry. By focusing on carbon trading, operation, technology, and infrastructure, they have instituted a four-pillar strategy to help achieve their main goal of infrastructural sustainability. Currently, their objective is to increase fuel efficiency by 1.5 percent rate annually until the year 2020, in addition to achieving a 50 percent reduction of the carbon emission as well as a neutral carbon growth contrary to the benchmark of the year 2005. This can only be achieved if all the four pillars proposed are producing a substantial impact on a global scale.
Figure 1: An image showing HMS Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carrier. Retrieved from http://ukarmedforcescommentary.blogspot.co.ke/p/future-force-2020-royal-navy.html
A lot of criticism rose after the convened UNFCCC COP21 meeting in addition to the adopted Paris agreement because they failed to refer international aviation especially in their scheme designed to mitigate carbon emission impact on the climate change. In the year 2016 United Nation (UN) agency concerned with the aviation industry begun the long run development of a strategy that will oversee the resolution for creating a sustainable framework for the aircraft carrier industry, and recommendation to improve fuel-efficient and minimize carbon emission into the atmosphere.
Beside IATA, there are other environmental agencies and lobby group concerned with the emission of carbon in the atmosphere greatly concerned with the strategy and framework that can be developed to help improve sea transport such the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG), Sustainable Aviation, and commercial Aviation Alternatively Fuels Initiative (CAAFI) of the United States of America. These groups are concerned with the broad spectrum of the industries that emit gasses into the atmosphere instead of one industry that is involved in the emission of carbon into the atmosphere. In addition to that, they also analyze the framework of the industries including components and infrastructure in order to develop insightful strategies that cover the entire industry, which can be implemented to ensure sustainable environmentally friendly technologies.
Emission roadmap
Examining various strategies that can be used with the UK aircraft carrier industries; the guideline proposed show detail impacts of various improvements in the combustion of fuel by 2050 in consideration to UK emission of an aircraft carrier. Closely examining various improvements that can be achieved through carbon trading, sustainable fuel, eco-efficient aircraft carrier, operations, prediction by Sustainable Aviation lobby group show that all these areas can commit to improving the environmental sustainable up to 2050 minus increasing their emission of CO2 levels in addition to reduced VOC, water consumption, and improved waste management (Amaeshi and Crane 2006).
Local air quality
Even though CO2 is widely known to be the largest contributor emission to the impact of the climate at the global level, in UK various pollutants of the local air are have been determined to be from various emission which has greatly inhibited the expansion of various aircraft carriers in the region. In diverse urban and metropolitan city around the UK (Freestone 2009), vehicle and industrial machinery remains the largest contributor of emission of toxic gasses into the local atmosphere.
According to several studies conducted and data analysis comparing various contributors of greenhouse gasses into the local air in the UK, the aviation industries remains all time lower second to rail industry in terms of the percentage contribution of toxic gas to the atmosphere. Road traffic is the largest contributor followed by the shipping industries. Traces of Nitrous Oxide (NO) gasses also contribute to a larger percentage of toxic gasses that affects the climate change.
Surprising, NO2 gas is not a byproduct of fuel combustion and the stringent measure has been put in place to ensure that its production is minimized in the propulsion of marine engine combustion especially in their new marine vessels (Brooker 2006). Air pollution by the marine vessels accounts for the largest proportion of climate change added to their waste management strategies. NO2 contributed to the air results from the machinery operations in the harbor, which has led to the development of substantial strategies to help minimize the emission of NO in the future. After a short of a period, it is estimated the amount of NO emitted from the harbor operations and access routes will be minimized in consideration to measure being put in place.
Figure 2: Various ways of improving ship design for sustainability. Retrieved from http://worldmaritimenews.com/archives/177342/infographic-cma-cgm-cuts-its-carbon-footprint-by-50pct/
Noise
There is major concern globally regarding aviation noise and other related operation to it. Noise caused with the aviation is a both annoying and impairment to the living standard of the demography near the harbor where aircraft carrier dock. As a result, it inhibits the potential expansion and growth of the harbor facilities to accommodate more carrier in addition to the plane, even though it is seen to be a potential increase in the noise intensity (Amaeshi and Crane 2006). The impact of the noise can be felt early in the morning, in the evening, and at night when a greater number of people at home from the various workplace are trying to relax and rest after a long day of hustle.
Noise caused from the aircraft carrier harbor is not constrained to planes engine but other factors including harbor operation which contributes massively to the heightening of the noise intensity originating from howling vessels and aircraft taking off and landing. Such operations include access road noise caused by the traffics, and other automotive machinery operated within the harbor of aircraft carrier proximity (Lee 2010). A number of ways that noise can be minimized in aircraft carrier harbor are still being researched. According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), noise from the planes can be reduced by asserting planes into noise "chapter”. Using this assortment preventive strategy, harbor authorities, therefore, can use either quota limits or time restriction- ban to restrict noise through the chapter of a plane to minimize noise from the harbor and the howling vessels of aircraft carriers.
However, for this to be achievable, the manufacturer should be on the forefront to designing different types of engines which can be categorized based on different chapters to institute preventive measure which will work effectively and efficiently for the harbor authorities (Amaeshi and Crane 2006). Since the year 2002, the European Union instituted a ban on chapter 2 plane flying in their airspace and chapter 3 is preempt to follow suit (Preston, Lee and Hooper 2012). This has an open up development of new technology that has been incorporated into new aircraft such as the hush-kits- the greener technology, quieter engine turbines fitted with the serrated edge to minimize noise from the aircraft carrier. The hush-kit minimize emission of CO2 into the environment by reducing it toxic level.
Systems Architectural Framework
Aircraft carrier design
The sustainability of the aircraft carrier to a greater degree highly depends on the advancement of technology efficiency. In the year 2008, the committee of climate change (CCC) made a 0.8 percent forecast increase in the fuel efficiency annually and made the recommendation that with further funding to aircraft technology 1.5 percent increment could be achieved annually.
In the early 19th century, during the inception of boat steam engine boat, the reciprocating type of engine was the first to be used in the navy vessels. Subsequent developments thereafter were made to improve the economy performance of the engine propelled with the advent struggling power in the famous war in history. Later, marine diesel engine and steam turbine replaced their predecessor. Since world war one, a lot of development aided with technological advancement has had a major impact on the marine aircraft carrier engine. Although a considerable number of an aircraft carrier are the post-world war II vessel, a substantial improvement has been made to achieve maximum repulsion as well as reduce waste management and VOC from the carrier.
Gear system and Stabilizer
Using the Rolls-Royce gear system design with two gears per ship, the UK aircraft carrier can minimize noise and vibration with the 50- 60 percent hydraulic weight reduction and can still achieve maximum torque. Furthermore, using a four stabilizer per ship, the carrier vessel is able to minimize drag, which requires full throttle of the turbine consequently increasing noise and vibration. With a four stabilizers per ship, the drag is minimized with the retractable fins hence vibration and noise from the ship.
Electrical power distribution system with low voltage (LV)
Using an electrical propulsion system, the aircraft carrier can be installed with a low voltage electrical power distribution system for economy performance and efficiency. It reduces the energy consumption in the engine system by improving the combustion of gas in the engine hence reducing emission of carbon into the atmosphere.
The design material has also greatly improved since the post world II era. Marine engineer is currently using the composite material to replace the steel metal incorporated in their previous designs. Composite material is stronger and lighter than steel hence suitable to improve propulsion consequently the fuel consumption per mile.
They have all begun facing out boilers with a photovoltaic cell which means better performance in addition to biomass boiler which will slash off the carbon emission by an estimate of 12,000 tons.
The vibration of the ship and the propeller is also a major disturbance to the marine life. The engineer should design a framework that will minimize the total weight of the ship in addition improved performance. The carriers constitute 40 percent of the total weight. By installing two propeller, two shaft lines, four stabilizers, and two gear per ship, in addition to electrical propulsion system enable the carrier to achieve maximum torque with a 10 percent weight reduction and improve economy performance that minimizes noise and vibration from the ship.
Figure 3: Methods of ensuring sustainability in the marine transport. Retrieved from http://www.gepowerconversion.com/sites/gepc/files/styles/large/public/marine
Propulsion system
The aircraft carrier engine system is seen major improvement after the post-world war II. From the reciprocating engine type to steam turbine to currently electric propulsion engine, major improve in terms of carbon emission, oil spillage, and waste production will be minimized with the development of electric propulsion engine. This combined with the liquefied natural gas that propels the engine of aircraft carrier vessels, UK aviation industries is estimating that the technology will immensely reduce the emission of CO2, in addition, to cost effective measure in regulating the emission of toxic gasses into the atmosphere.
The MT30 gas turbine is both light and efficient in achieving economy performance through the propulsion. The turbine can achieve an intended forward thrust within a short period. It is also designed to minimize maintenance cost with hydraulic start kid. In addition, the turbine consist of a fire protection system as well Uninterruptible power supply which is able to operate in case of electrical malfunction in the carrier vessel.
The Stirling engine is also been upscaled for the larger surface aircraft carrier to enhance combustion of fuel to achieve both immense propulsion force for the navy vessels and reduce the emission of CO2 to the atmosphere. This type of engine will reduce the noise created within the vessel and at the same time achieve a smooth forward thrust for economy performance.
Sustainability measurement regime
Fuel efficiency over time
Since the advent of the ship engine in the early 19 century, fuel efficiency has immensely improved over the year with researcher approximating more improvement with the adoption of electric propulsion engine in addition to upscaling the Stirling engine for the huge aircraft carrier vessels. This has led to consideration of new technology to further improve fuel efficiency over the next coming decades with a 1.5 percent annual increase globally until 2050. Technological advancement has greatly improved fuel efficiency
Speed of technology implementation
Marine industries in joint ventures with aviation industries companies have been adamant in embracing technological advancement. Most marine industries see the need of adopting an electric propulsion system, Stirling engine, liquefied natural gas fuel engine, and the nuclear reactor will be both potential assets to minimize the cost of operation in addition to reduced carbon print, VOC, and efficient energy utilization to achieve the intended propulsion and economy performance.
Appraisal
In order for an aircraft carrier to realize back their potential benefit to the community, they should adopt various strategies that will improve their operations as well manage an efficiently their operations. Appraisal through synergy such as reduced seaway traveling, design a more spacious cabin, ensure a smooth and quiet ride, in addition to reduced enhance waste and energy utilization they can achieve economy performance in an eco-efficient manner.
Recommendation
UK marine industries should focus on developing a new propulsion system for their aircraft carrier to help achieve eco-efficiency strategies that will reduce the climate change by cutting their carbon emission cost into the atmosphere.
They should also focus on finding means to increase strategies that will ensure recycling of the materials used in the aircraft carrier through retrofitting to minimize the cost associated with wiping of older technology, which might be expensive.
Strategic noise measure should also be stringent to help reduce noise from the emanating from the harbor by minimizing the inshore operation of the aircraft to reduce the noise in addition to improving howling system of the vessels.
Conclusion
Technological advancement can aid improved aircraft carrier performance through using propulsion technology and composite material. This strategy ensures that they are more robust for forwarding thrust which improving efficiency in terms of fuel combustion as well as reducing emission which impacts the environment. The marine industries should also design proper strategies to ensure that they are touch with current technology in a cost effective manner since it as critical to their operation and not just an aspiration (Agarwal 2012). Waste management, energy, and water consumption should be the greatest concern for the marine to ensure they are in tune with current advancement in technology, which provides a mean for economy performance and eco-efficiency improvement sustainability in the ever-changing technological environment.
References
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