Moscow engineers Alexey and Yuri Sitnitsky have proposed a new system for protecting jet engines. It is designed to reduce the risk of birds, ice, and debris entering the turbine during takeoff and landing.
The designers have developed a special screen inside the aircraft's air intake, capable of literally "cutting off" dangerous objects before air enters the engine.
The main feature of the system is a movable louvered grille with wave-like channels. In operation, the screen blocks the lower part of the airflow, where the main mass of foreign objects is concentrated. The separating profiles deflect debris while allowing air to pass with minimal thrust loss.
The Sitnitskys specifically noted that classic engine protection systems do not always work effectively in the internal hub area of the fan. The new screen covers precisely this area, increasing the overall efficiency of air purification.
The structure automatically retracts into the air intake niche when there is no danger. At the same time, the flow blockage area is limited to a range of 15–35% to avoid degrading the power plant's characteristics.
The geometry of the channels creates a smooth, wave-like movement of air without strong vortices and a sharp increase in resistance.
