#ThrottleUp: GEnx Super-Efficient Jet Engine Hologram Experience at Creative Week

May 10th, 2012 by Zachary Shahan

New York City is hosting Creative Week this week, May 7-11. The week includes a number of interesting events, but I’m just seeing one related to cleantech — GE’s Throttle Up event and experience. Throttle Up, located at 56 Water Street in DUMBO, Brooklyn from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm all week, is a “massive interactive hologram experience” that uses some of the most state-of-the-art technology (see below) to focus people’s attention on the power of the GEnx jet engine.

Of course, the cleantech part of this is that the GEnx is wicked efficient. The GEnx cuts NOx emissions as much as 55% below current regulatory limits, and it cuts other gases as much as 90% below such limits. While it would be great to switch to a sustainable, zero-emission fuel for all flights, it’s clear that’s not happening any time soon. Until it does, we need continued advancements in the efficiency of the engines that power our planes, so it’s great to see the GEnx going far beyond requirements.

"GEnx engine is powering through a water ingestion test."

What’s the secret to the great efficiency of this completely hand-built jet engine? It’s made of a lightweight (very lightweight) composite material that GE says it spent two decades developing. “The tough, carbon-fiber epoxy resin is corrosion resistant, lighter than titanium alloys, and shaves some 400 pounds off each engine.” This composite is also used for the fan blades of the GE90, another super-efficient jet engine I wrote about in March that holds the title as the largest and most powerful jet engine ever built.

Alongside the interactive hologram experience in Brooklyn this week, you can follow news about events related to it on Twitter using the hashtag #ThrottleUp, for those of you who (like me) can’t make it to Brooklyn.

The following are some of the technologies and products that have gone into the hologram:

3D renderings by Oscar-winning FX company
TACT (touch, real time analytics and control technologies)
Softkinetic sensor camera
Unity gaming engine
Musion Eyeliner projection technology
Reactive, REAL, custom designed, sound and sensory components

According to GE, this is largest audience-controlled hologram experience. It’s probably the closest we’ll get to building a jet engine, and being a part of the GEnx build — even a hologram version — sounds like an amazing achievement.

Top Image via creativeweek/Instagram; all others via GE

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Tags: Creative Week, efficient jet engines, GE, ge jet engines, GEnx, GEnx hologram, holograms, jet engines

About the Author

Zachary Shahan spends most of his time here on CleanTechnica as the director/chief editor. Otherwise, he's probably enthusiastically fulfilling his duties as the director/editor of Solar Love, EV Obsession, Planetsave, or Bikocity. Zach is recognized globally as a solar energy, electric car, and wind energy expert. If you would like him to speak at a related conference or event, connect with him via social media. You can connect with Zach on any popular social networking site you like. Links to all of his main social media profiles are on ZacharyShahan.com.