Mercedes Mullins
The Boeing 737 is one of the most popular aircraft in the world, with several variants currently in service. The fuel consumption of a 737 depends on several factors, including the variant, flight duration, number of passengers, cargo weight, and route. In this article, we will explore the fuel efficiency of the 737, the technologies that are improving it, and estimate how much fuel a 737 might use in a year of operation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Fuel burned by a 737 in a year | N/A |
| Fuel burned by a 737 on a flight | 30,000 pounds, 6,000 pounds per hour, 5,500-6,600 pounds per hour, 850 US gallons per hour, 0.593 mpg for the whole plane, 96 mpg per passenger |
| Fuel burned by a 737-800 on a 1,000 NM trip with 162 passengers | 0.593 mpg for the whole plane, 96 mpg per passenger |
| Fuel burned by Southwest Airlines' all-Boeing 737 fleet over a quarter | 500 million gallons for 33.1 billion miles |
| Fuel burned by a 737-800 on a transatlantic flight from New York to London | 36,000 gallons |
| Fuel burned by a 737-800 on a 545,034-sector average flight in 2015 | 5.04 tons of fuel |
| Fuel burned by a 737-800 on a 1,249-km average sector in 2015 | 30.4 kg of fuel |
| Fuel burned by a 737-800 on a transpacific route in 2016 | 3.23 L/100 km per passenger |
| Fuel savings on a 737-800 from winglets | 4.6-10.5% |
| Fuel savings on a 737 from ECO-150 concept | 20-30% |
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What You'll Learn
- Fuel efficiency is increased by better aerodynamics and reducing weight
- Fuel burn is affected by altitude, winds, and routing
- Average fuel burn of new aircraft fell 45% from 1968 to 2014
- Short trips are the worst-performing flights due to fuel used for takeoff
- Boeing 737-800s are the most common variant of the 737NG family
Fuel efficiency is increased by better aerodynamics and reducing weight
While I am unable to provide an exact figure for how much fuel a 737 uses in a year, I can provide some information on fuel usage rates for similar aircraft. The 737-800, the most common variant of the 737NG (Next Generation) family, burns 850 US gallons (3,200 L) of jet fuel per hour. In comparison, another user mentions that on their last transcontinental flight in a 737, they burned 30,000 pounds of fuel in just under 5 hours, averaging 6,000 pounds per hour.
Now, onto the main topic: how fuel efficiency is increased by better aerodynamics and reducing weight.
Better Aerodynamics
Aerodynamics is the study of airflow around an object, in this case, an aircraft. The smoother the airflow, the lower the drag, and the less fuel required to maintain a specific speed. Aerodynamic drag increases with speed, and at higher speeds, it becomes the primary factor in fuel consumption. Therefore, improving an aircraft's aerodynamics can significantly reduce fuel usage.
Aerodynamicists and designers work together to subtly shape aircraft to reduce drag. This can include adding winglets or small vertical surfaces at the wingtips to minimize airflow around them, as well as streamlining the aircraft's body for a lower drag coefficient. Additionally, concepts like Volvo's 3CC and Mercedes' bionic car showcase how dramatic aerodynamic improvements can be made to production vehicles.
Reducing Weight
Weight reduction is another critical factor in improving fuel efficiency. Aviation researchers are working on creating lighter-weight engines and hybrid-electric engines, such as Honeywell's hybrid-electric turbogenerator, which runs partially on electricity. Lighter engines mean less fuel is needed to propel the aircraft forward.
Additionally, aircraft engineers are exploring ways to reduce weight in other areas, such as replacing heavy wiring with small, lightweight wireless transceivers for certain systems. By reducing the weight of the aircraft, fuel consumption can be minimized, leading to significant cost savings for airlines and other aircraft operators.
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Fuel burn is affected by altitude, winds, and routing
Fuel burn is affected by a multitude of factors, including altitude, winds, and routing.
Altitude plays a significant role in fuel efficiency. Most commercial flights operate between 29,000 and 42,000 feet in altitude. Flying at higher altitudes offers advantages such as reduced drag due to lower air pressure and thinner air, resulting in improved fuel efficiency and faster airspeed. However, flying too high can lead to decreased air density, requiring more fuel to maintain lift. Therefore, the optimum cruising altitude is a balance between air density, lift, drag, and engine performance.
Winds, particularly headwinds, tailwinds, and crosswinds, can impact groundspeed, which in turn affects fuel range. While these winds do not influence aircraft airspeed, they significantly influence groundspeed, thereby affecting fuel consumption over a given distance. Additionally, jet streams, which are fast-moving air currents, can impact fuel consumption during takeoff and landing when the aircraft's speed relative to the ground is a factor.
Routing also plays a crucial role in fuel efficiency. Dispatchers aim to select the most efficient routes, taking into account factors such as wind patterns and jet streams, especially during winter when they can be stronger. Similar to winds, routing decisions influence the groundspeed and, consequently, the fuel range of the aircraft.
In summary, altitude, winds, and routing are interconnected factors that significantly influence fuel burn. Aircraft operators must carefully consider these variables to optimize fuel efficiency and overall flight performance.
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Average fuel burn of new aircraft fell 45% from 1968 to 2014
The fuel economy of an aircraft is a measure of its transport energy efficiency. The average fuel burn of new aircraft fell by 45% from 1968 to 2014, with a compounded annual reduction of 1.3% and a variable reduction rate. This decrease in fuel consumption can be attributed to various factors, including improvements in engine efficiency, airframe efficiency, and the adoption of new technologies.
The Boeing 737-800, for example, is a commonly used aircraft that has benefited from advancements in fuel efficiency. Operating across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, Ryanair is one of the largest airlines utilizing the 737-800. In 2014, Ryanair was ranked as the lowest-emissions-intensity airline in the MSCI ACWI index, emitting 75 grams of CO2-e per revenue passenger kilometre. This efficiency is due in part to the high-density configuration of their 737-800s, accommodating 189 seats.
The 737-800 burns approximately 850 US gallons (3,200 litres) of jet fuel per hour. However, the actual fuel consumption can vary depending on factors such as altitude, winds, and routing. On a transcontinental flight from BWI to LAS, a 737 burned about 30,000 pounds of fuel over a duration of just under five hours.
To further enhance fuel efficiency, aircraft manufacturers have introduced various innovations. For instance, Airbus has incorporated wingtip fences and Sharklet blended-winglets on certain aircraft models, resulting in a fuel burn reduction of up to 3.5%. Boeing has also developed the 787 Dreamliner, which is 20% more fuel-efficient per passenger kilometre than previous-generation aircraft.
Additionally, new technologies and propulsion systems are being explored to further reduce fuel consumption. Empirical Systems Aerospace (ESAero) is working on the ECO-150 concept, which utilizes turboelectric distributed propulsion and is expected to achieve 20-30% fuel savings over the Boeing 737 NG. NASA is also investigating hybrid-electric architectures and distributed propulsion systems to improve efficiency and emissions in larger aircraft.
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Short trips are the worst-performing flights due to fuel used for takeoff
While there are no specific figures for how much fuel a 737 uses in a year, it is known that the 737-800 variant burns 850 US gallons (3,200 L) of jet fuel per hour. This is the most common variant of the 737NG (Next Generation) family, used by airlines such as Ryanair, which serves routes across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.
The fuel economy of an aircraft is a measure of its transport energy efficiency. Fuel efficiency can be increased through better aerodynamics, weight reduction, improved engine brake-specific fuel consumption, and propulsive efficiency or thrust-specific fuel consumption. Generally, the longer the flight, the higher the carbon emissions due to the fuel burned. However, this is not always the case, as short trips of 500 to 1500 kilometres are considered the worst-performing flights in terms of fuel efficiency.
Short-haul flights have a higher proportion of fuel usage during non-cruising stages such as taxiing, take-off, climb, approach, and taxi-in. On shorter flights, the fuel used for takeoff is relatively large compared to the amount expended during the cruise, which is the most fuel-intensive stage for longer flights. For example, on a flight to Hong Kong, cruising uses up 96% of the total fuel burned, while cruising accounts for only 62% of the overall fuel burn for a shorter flight to Paris.
The type of aircraft used on shorter flights also contributes to their lower fuel efficiency. Less fuel-efficient regional jets are typically used for short-haul flights. Additionally, the number of seats available on an aircraft can impact its fuel efficiency. Very long non-stop flights may have to limit the number of seats to compensate for the weight penalty of carrying extra fuel.
To improve fuel efficiency, airlines can adopt new technologies and aircraft designs. For instance, winglets or wingtip devices can provide fuel burn reductions on longer flights. Aircraft weight can also be reduced through the use of lightweight materials such as titanium, carbon fiber, and composite plastics, improving fuel efficiency and reducing take-off weight.
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Boeing 737-800s are the most common variant of the 737NG family
The Boeing 737-800 is the most common variant of the 737NG family, with 4,764 in commercial service as of July 2018. The 737-800 is also the best-selling variant of the 737NG and is the most widely used narrow-body aircraft. Ryanair, an Irish low-cost airline, is among the largest operators of the Boeing 737-800, with a fleet of over 400 of the -800 variant serving routes across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.
The 737-800 is a twin-engine narrow-body aircraft produced by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It was launched in 1993 as the third-generation derivative of the Boeing 737 and has been in production since 1997. The 737NG is an upgrade of the 737 Classic series, with a redesigned wing, wider wingspan, greater fuel capacity, and higher maximum takeoff weights (MTOW). It has CFM International CFM56-7 series engines, a glass cockpit, and upgraded and redesigned interior configurations.
The 737-800 has a seating capacity of between 108 and 215 passengers, with a range of 2,000 nautical miles (3,700 km or 2,300 mi). It burns 850 US gallons (3,200 L) of jet fuel per hour and has an average fuel savings distribution of 4.6% to 10.5%. In 2011, the 737-800 was the first U.S. commercial flight to be powered by a blend of algae-derived biofuel and traditional jet fuel, reducing its carbon footprint.
The fuel economy of aircraft is a measure of their transport energy efficiency. Fuel efficiency can be increased by improving aerodynamics, reducing weight, and improving engine brake-specific fuel consumption and propulsive efficiency. New technology, such as higher pressure and bypass ratios, geared turbofans, open rotors, and hybrid or fully electric propulsion, can also reduce engine fuel consumption. The worst-performing flights in terms of fuel economy are usually short trips of 500 to 1500 kilometres, due to the relatively large amount of fuel used for takeoff and the less fuel-efficient regional jets typically used on these routes.
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Frequently asked questions
The amount of fuel used by a 737 in a year depends on various factors such as flight duration, route, altitude, winds, and seating density. On average, a Boeing 737-800 burns 850 US gallons (3,200 litres) of jet fuel per hour.
The fuel efficiency of a 737 can be improved by optimising aerodynamics, reducing weight, and improving engine brake-specific fuel consumption and propulsive efficiency. Additionally, operating at higher altitudes can also improve fuel economy.
The fuel consumption of a 737 varies depending on the variant, such as the 737-800 or 737-300. Compared to other aircraft, the 737 is more fuel-efficient than larger planes like the Boeing 747-400, which burns around 10-11 tons of fuel per hour, and the Airbus A380, which uses around 11-12 tons of fuel per hour. However, it may be less efficient than smaller planes designed for shorter trips, such as the Risen 912iS, which can achieve 137 MPG per passenger.
