According to a report by Chao News, Jiang Kaichun, an academician of the European Academy of Sciences and director of the Haina-Power System Research Center at the Zhejiang Tsinghua Yangtze River Delta Research Institute, and his team are urgently developing a micro-turbine engine. This engine is expected to become the "strong heart" of drones, propelling them to fly higher, farther, and longer, injecting powerful momentum into the development of the low-altitude economy.
Understood, the low-altitude economy, as a hot field at present, is gradually penetrating into people's lives. From aerial vehicles to drone delivery, from the rapid transportation of highland fruits to various low-altitude application scenarios, the low-altitude economy demonstrates immense potential. However, to enable aircraft to better serve human production and life, multiple bottlenecks such as endurance, load capacity, and environmental protection need to be overcome. Jiang Kaichun's team has chosen an innovative path, dedicated to building micro-turbine engines that release "great energy" from their "small bodies".
In terms of endurance, Jiang Kaichun pointed out that the energy density of fuel engines is generally 30 to 40 times higher than that of batteries. Currently, the endurance time of lithium battery drones on the market is mostly between 30 minutes and 2 to 3 hours. However, the micro-turbine engine they developed can extend the endurance time of drones to 20 to 30 hours, and the take-off weight is controlled at around 200 kilograms, significantly enhancing the practicality of drones.
From an environmental perspective, micro-turbine engines also excel. These engines are capable of burning clean fuels such as green methanol, ammonia, or hydrogen, achieving zero carbon emissions throughout the entire process, thereby providing strong support for the sustainable development of the low-altitude economy.
Although the technology is currently still in a tense testing phase, it has already attracted orders from multiple enterprises. Jiang Kaichun stated that it is expected that drones equipped with their engines will conduct test flights over Jiaxing by the end of this year. As the test flights draw near, the team is making every effort to complete the final preparations.
Looking ahead, the application prospects of micro-turbine engines are vast. Beyond the drone sector, they can be utilized in various fields such as urban air mobility, power supply in remote areas, environmental monitoring, disaster warning, and more, providing a strong impetus for the comprehensive development of the low-altitude economy.
