MiG engines can produce power

April 25, 2006

MiG engines could be used to generate power

Even as several Indian states including Maharashtra are grappling with power crisis, scientists and technocrats are coming out with new ideas to produce electricity. The new concept is a blessing in disguise. This time it is the engines of old Russian-origin MiG aircraft. The large number of unused engines of Mig-21 and MiG-27 fighter jets -- which has been replaced by newer fighter jets -- could be used for this purpose thanks to the proposal of Indo-Russian Aviation Ltd (IRAL), a joint venture company of government-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). Nearly a year ago at Ozhar near Nasik, the idea was deliberated at a workshop hosted by Nashik chapter of Institution of Engineers. Sources in Indo-Russian Aviation Company Ltd and Institution of Engineers confirmed this development. "In fact, the Russians have set up an experimental plant and the old engines which are not used now, could be of great help," sources said. MiG-21, the mainstay of the Indian Air Force (IAF) is often referred to as the 'Flying Coffins' because of the frequent crashes in recent times. They said that IAF had been using MiGs since the early sixties pointed out that there is a "large number" of aircraft, which are not used now. "The engines are lying idle and it could be used to produce electricity," they pointed out. "Today, there is power crisis. Why not use these engines to develop power, at least on an experimental basis. We can definitely have a technology demonstrator," they noted talking about his proposal. Their mathematics is quite simple: a MiG-21 engine could produce eight to 10 MW of power a day, while a MiG-27 engine – which produces more thrust – could give nearly 18 to 20 MW daily. "It is going to be an uninterrupted source of power supply," the sources said. And of course, no load-shedding – which is now a major issue in Maharashtra.
A nearly 10 MW engine, he points out, could light up a housing society of nearly 800 people. the sources explain, "A common household uses two to three fans and a same number of bulbs or tubelights, a TV set and a refrigerator. The daily consumption is nearly one to 1.5 KW. And one MW equals to 1,000 KW. Just imagine the untapped potential." When pointed out that jet engines run on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), which is quite costly,the sources point out, "It can run on ATF as well as compressed natural gas (popularly known as CNG)." The added advantage: no distribution losses and no transmission losses. The only critical area: it would need uninterrupted supply of gas to run the engines.

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