Fuel Conservation and Applied Research

Applied research, the vital connecting link between basic research & development, is supported by our present economic system only for specific individual projects. As a consequence, there is a large body of applied research activity, including information & data, which could be applicable to a broad scope of projects employing similar technologies but which never come to the attention of other project managers. This point is illustrated by several past, present, & future examples of applied research pertinent to fuel conservation: electric power generation (past); ceramic gas-turbine components, magnetohydrodynamic electric power generation, fluidized-bed combustion, & the supercritical airplane wing (present); & ground vehicle drag reduction & tribiology (future). One approach to institutionalization of a properly comprehensive applied research program is to utilize & expand upon existing mechanisms in the professional engineering & scientific societies. 2 Tables, 3 Figures. AA.