CH52 - Turbine Engines

The professor who was supposed to study abroad in the U.S. was standing in front of me.

"Professor... No, Mr. Joo Young-gil! Why do you keep following me around? Everyone else is working hard at the repair base."

"I prefer learning from you over Mark, President... And this is the runway, right? My dream is to build airplanes."

"Airplanes?"

Come to think of it, Joo's dream was to build airplanes, right? That's why he researched materials for jet engines at NASA.

He consistently sponsored the glider competition, which was not very popular at school festivals.

"Please, don't send me back to Korea. I'll work hard at the repair base. If I go back now, I won't be able to face my family."

"Wasn't coming here not part of your plan? You had someone who sponsored you throughout college, right? Didn't they recommend you to study in the U.S.?"

"How... How did you know?"

"Just heard it somewhere."

How did I know? Because you told me yourself.

Joo said he was noticed by a conglomerate chairman while tutoring in his freshman year and received support to study in the U.S.

In class, he often joked that luck was the best way to succeed.

"Well, it's not entirely unrelated to the situation. Korea Petrochemical was completely outcompeted by Daese Chemical and couldn't enter the Ulsan complex..."

Korea Petrochemical? That name sounds familiar.

They couldn't enter the Ulsan complex because of Daese Chemical.

Ah, Korea Petrochemical Industries! In the original history, they had ties with Gulf Oil.

In this history, it seems they gave up on expanding their business because they couldn't compete with Daese Chemical in building a chemical plant in Ulsan.

The butterfly effect shows itself in strange places.

"Did Korea Petrochemical sponsor you?"

"Yes, until three years ago, the president of Korea Petrochemical promised to support my studies in the U.S., but when it came time to graduate, the situation didn't allow it. Of course, that's not why I bothered the president."

So it was because of that.

"Were you trying to gain knowledge from me because you were frustrated about not being able to study in the U.S.?"

"No. Well, honestly, I did feel that way at first... But the more I saw, the more I sincerely wanted to learn from you. Even the way you think."

Joo lost his sponsor because of me.

No, maybe he gained a better sponsor.

If I use the superalloy that Joo will create, instead of NASA, it will be for me, the material used for ultra-efficient gas turbine blades.

"Fine, I'll make some time for you."

"Yes, time?"

It felt awkward for Professor Joo to speak to me formally.

I should teach him quickly and send him to the U.S.

If he deviates too much from his original history, his research might go astray.

"Starting today, come to Warehouse B at 9 AM. It's related to airplanes."

"Airplanes?"

"It's an absolute secret from others. Got it?"

"Yes, thank you. I'll work hard!"

It seems I'll be teaching Professor Joo Young-gil.

*****

That night,

"President, it's me."

"Come in."

It was the first lesson.

It was funny that I, who made it into the world's top 100, was teaching, but I could at least lay the basics.

I pulled Professor Joo inside and closed the door. The windows were covered so that no light could escape.

"What is this?"

"What do you mean? It's a helicopter engine."

When I removed the tarp, Professor Joo was astonished.

"Is this the Turbo Charger engine I've only heard about?"

"No, it's a Turbo Shaft. It's not an engine that produces thrust with exhaust gases but one that turns the main rotor blade. That's the correct term."

When teaching something, you must teach the names correctly first. Knowing the name accurately is the first step in creating that thing.

"Turbo Shaft, an engine that turns the main rotor blade. Got it, President."

Professor Joo wrote down my words exactly in his notebook.

His bad handwriting remained the same. It looked like worm tracks.

To others, it would seem like a complete cipher.

Anyway, the start was good.

Professor Joo had learned knowledge at university, but seeing that he couldn't distinguish between Turbo Charger and Turbo Shaft, he was a complete novice in experience.

It would be great to engrave the basic concepts properly while his knowledge system was still flexible.

"Young-gil, listen carefully. We shouldn't focus on the Turbo Charger or Turbo Shaft engines themselves."

"????"

"We need to focus on the fundamental technologies that make up this engine. The Turbo Shaft engine, broadly speaking, is a type of gas turbine."

"Gas turbine. An engine with four strokes: air intake, compression, fuel combustion, and exhaust."

He is indeed a model student. As soon as the term "gas turbine" came up, he recited the operating sequence automatically.

"How does someone in materials science know that?"

"I audited almost all the airplane-related classes."

Is he a genius who also worked hard?

I suppose the expectations of university students in the 1960s were immense.

"Good. If you see an airplane when looking at this engine, what do you think I see?"

"Are you asking me to guess your thoughts, President?"

"If you keep arguing, I'll kick you out."

"Jet engine!"

"That's your hobby. I'm not interested in jets."

"Rocket!"

"Should we stop the lesson?"

"Oh, you don't like them. Then a warship!"

"... Sigh... Say something industrial."

Was he a military enthusiast?

He even knew that gas turbines were used in warships in addition to diesel engines.

"Could it be... Are you planning to build a next-generation power plant with gas turbines?"

I found it amusing that he called it "next-generation."

In the 21st century, combined heat and power plants that generate electricity and heating using gas turbines are mainstream. In this era, coal-fired power plants that run steam turbines are common.

"That's right. I'm going to build a power plant. A combined heat and power plant running on gas turbines. Like this."

I drew a conceptual diagram in my notebook.

It showed making electricity with a gas turbine, boiling water with the remaining heat to run a steam turbine for more electricity, and using the leftover heat for district heating.

"Wow, you're really using the fuel efficiently."

Of course.

I am a plant worker who values efficiency.

If we're going to build one, it should be a combined heat and power plant that is both efficient and less polluting than a crude thermal power plant.

"Of course, it has to be this way. South Korea doesn't produce a drop of oil."

Though in the 21st century, a tiny bit is produced off the coast of Ulsan, it's barely enough to call an oil field.

Thinking of it, extracting that could be profitable... No, I can't worry about that now.

"When will you build the power plant, President? Let me join in."

"When? Do you think it's possible to build it right away?"

"Aren't you a genius, President?"

"I'm neither a genius nor a magician. We lack the core technology to build a gas turbine and only have a rough understanding of the power plant's operation."

Even with experience in building power plants, you can't create one from scratch.

We must start with joint ventures with the U.S. or Germany.

Simultaneously, we need to pursue domestic research and subcontract construction to localize gas turbine engines.

I'm redoing what I couldn't finish in my past life.

In this life, I will definitely achieve it.

I'll dominate this field entirely.

"What core technologies do you want, President?"

Good question.

Professor Joo, in this life, you're mine.

"The technologies I want are just two. With them, we can localize gas turbine engines."

Gas turbine engines are essentially like jet engines in fighter planes, so advanced countries keep them top secret for national security.

In other words, buying core technologies is practically impossible. Self-development is the answer.

"Only two things to focus on?"

"Once you know those two, the rest is about improving process quality or efficiency. Whether it's a crappy car or a high-end import, as long as it runs, it's called a car."

"Got it."

For the first time, Professor Joo didn't argue with me.

"Look at this. We don't have much time."

We really didn't have much time.

I had to send Professor Joo to the U.S. before the butterfly effects around him grew more severe.

That way, he would develop superalloys as in the original history, which I desperately needed.

"Doesn't this turbine blade look different from the others?"

I tapped the turbine blades inside the helicopter engine. They are called turbine blades because they resemble knife blades.

"Somehow, it looks slightly yellowish."

Oh, he can distinguish the subtle color difference?

"Tap it."

Ping. Ping.

"Wow, it sounds like a clear xylophone."

"That's because it's a superalloy."

"Superalloy?"

"An alloy that withstands 1100 degrees and can somewhat endure 1500 degrees."

"1500 degrees?"

"The exhaust gas from the combustion chamber reaches 1500 degrees. It must endure it, even if only briefly."

"I see."

"Your task is to figure out the composition and heat treatment method of this superalloy."

There's a reason turbine blades for 21st-century fighter jet engines cost hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars each.

They must continuously spin and compress air at temperatures that easily melt iron.

It requires cutting-edge metallurgical approaches.

"... My task? What about you, President?"

"I won't be idle either. My task is the cooling method."

"Cooling... method... Ah!!! No matter how super the alloy is, it will eventually melt if left alone."

"Exactly. We need to find out how advanced companies cool engine parts. That's the second core technology of gas turbines."

"This is really interesting!"

"Interesting? Don't say that. Thousands of engineers worldwide are trying to solve these two problems. Solving them means making jet engines and rockets. It has immense commercial value and significantly enhances national security. Do you think it's something to do for fun?"

"... Sorry."

Professor Joo scratched his head, looking embarrassed. S-class cutting-edge research requires immense amounts of money, researchers, time, and even luck to succeed, if at all.

"Just one week of intensive training."

"What? One week?"

"Yes, just one week. Return home next week, have a nice meal with your family, and then go to the U.S."

Sending him to the U.S. right away would be inhumane.

He should feel a sense of fulfilment as his family sees him off. That way, he can endure living abroad.

"To the U.S.?"

"Don't you want to study abroad?"

"No, no, I do. But studying abroad costs a fortune."

"I have plenty of money."

"Thank you, President! No, Hyung! I'll serve you as my older brother from now on. Call me your younger brother."

As if trying to form a brotherhood, he crossed his wrists with mine.

"... Sigh... Really..."

I understood why the evaluation of Professor Joo was so polarized.

He wasn't like this when I attended his lectures.

Was his energy depleted with age?

"If we're going to work on the same task for a lifetime, shouldn't we at least form a brotherhood?"

"I hate fuss. Besides, if we must define it, we're not brothers but an independent army."

"Independent... army?"

"A technologically independent army. If our previous generation bled as independence fighters, we must build power plants and ships."

"..."

"We must live better than those who oppressed us! That's our right and duty. Isn't that so?"

"... A technological independence army."

The mischievous look on Joo Young-gil's face slowly faded.

Gosh, this guy can make such a serious expression.

Well, you did use the term "technological independence army" first.

<Is it studying abroad or immigration? Immigrants, stay. Those who came to study should return their homeland after studies. Become a technological independence army and break the capital dependence of our country.>

I heard that with such words, he returned to Korea with numerous scientists who had a better life guaranteed in the U.S.

Honestly, I can't imagine him saying such cool words...

"Today's special training is over."

"Yes."

Professor Joo cleaned up and returned to his accommodation.

*****

"P.S. - Buyer from BRS, arriving by LST. Wants a joint venture for professional products. Please consult."

"Huh? BRS buyer?"

It was a telex message hurriedly sent by Sam-bok.

While organizing the telexes due to the LST's arrival today, I discovered it five days late.

It was attached as a postscript to the end of a product report telex, so I missed it.

"BRS? Where is that? There are so many good brands like Nike, Reebok, and Calvin Klein."

Have the famous brands of the 21st century not been born yet in the 1960s?

I thought they would flock to my polytech products, but what's this unheard-of BRS?

I don't even like the name.

It's confusing with BR Construction.

Ding-ding-ding-ding!

"The ship's coming in!"

"Wow!"

Someone rang the bell loudly.

It meant the ship from Jinhae had arrived.

Everyone must be expecting letters from home.

'I should also go out to greet them.'

Whether it's BRS or whatever, I should welcome them warmly.

Even if it's not Nike or Reebok, an American marketing company is necessary to penetrate the Western market.

Besides, if they come all the way to greet me, their initiative is already commendable.