This book explores cutting-edge topics on hydrogen and fuel cell technologies in aviation. Coverage includes comparisons with conventional technologies, hydrogen storage options, energy management strategies, life cycle assessment, and application of fuel cells in different aerial vehicle classes. It also offers insights into recent progress and new technological developments in the field, along with case studies and practical applications. Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Technologies in Aviation is an invaluable guide for students, researchers, and engineers working on sustainable air transportation and the performance and environmental analysis of fuel cell-powered aerial vehicles.
Liquid hydrogen is shown to be the ideal fuel for civil transport aircraft, as well as for many types of military aircraft. Hydrogen Aircraft Technology discusses the potential of hydrogen for subsonic, supersonic, and hypersonic applications. Designs with sample configurations of aircraft for all three speed categories are presented, in addition to performance comparisons to equivalent designs for aircraft using conventional kerosine-type fuel and configurations for aircraft using liquid methane fuel. Other topics discussed include conceptual designs of the principal elements of fuel containment systems required for cryogenic fuels, operational elements (e.g., pumps, valves, pressure regulators, heat exchangers, lines and fittings), modifications for turbine engines to maximize the benefit of hydrogen, safety aspects compared to kerosine and methane fueled designs, equipment and facility designs for servicing hydrogen-fueled aircraft, production methods for liquid hydrogen, and the environmental advantages for using liquid hydrogen. The book also presents a plan for conducting the necessary development of technology and introducing hydrogen fuel into the worldwide civil air transport industry. Hydrogen Aircraft Technology will provide fascinating reading for anyone interested in aircraft and hydrogen fuel designs.
This book introduces readers to hydrogen as an essential energy carrier for use with renewable sources of primary energy. It provides an overview of the state of the art, while also highlighting the developmental and market potential of hydrogen in the context of energy technologies; mobile, stationary and portable applications; uninterruptible power supplies and in the chemical industry. Written by experienced practitioners, the book addresses the needs of engineers, chemists and business managers, as well as graduate students and researchers.
This book reviews the state-of-the-art in fuel cells (low and high temperature) across all the types applied in the field today and assesses current trends in development.
The scope of this joint EUROCAE/SAE report is to compile the considerations relating to airborne application of hydrogen fuel cells. This document provides a comprehensive analysis of the use of hydrogen as a fuel by describing its existing applications and the experience gained by exploiting fuel cells in sectors other than aviation. The use of hydrogen fuel cells in aircraft can help in meeting aviation environmental targets (including noise pollution) and can be vital to achieving efficient electrically propelled air vehicles. The experience gained with mature fuel cells in terrestrial applications and the handling of other gases in aviation, as presented herein, will help in alleviating safety concerns and in demystifying the usage of hydrogen in aviation. Hydrogen is the most abundant chemical element. One of the most valuable uses of hydrogen is in the hydrogen fuel cell. A fuel cell is used to combine hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity and water. This use of hydrogen is becoming increasingly important, given the imperative to store and use energy without producing any greenhouse gasses.Fuel cells are being used in every sector of mobility (trains, cars, buses, ships, submarines, forklifts, even bicycles, etc.) except in civil aviation. Yet, fuel cells can be used to replace secondary power systems such as auxiliary power units and main engine-driven generators. Successful demonstrations of operating fuel cells in commercial airplanes and general aviation have already been performed.The hydrogen fuel cell is a key technology for reaching the goals for climate change prevention and for energy security in several commercial sectors, including transport, industry, and power generation/distribution. In addition, connecting different hydrogen-using sectors with transmission and distribution networks will increase the operational flexibility of the future low carbon energy economy.This SAE Aerospace Information Report will provide the needed comprehensive reference, background information, and potential benefits, aiming to promote the use of hydrogen-powered fuel cell systems in airborne applications.
The Electric-powered general aviation aircraft, DA-II, represents a major step forward in environmentally friendly vehicle technology. DA-II has been designed to provide clean, quiet, and convenient service for civilian air travel. Electric propulsion was chosen for several reasons. First, by not using an internal combustion engine, the aircraft can greatly reduce air pollution. The electric propulsion is also quiet compared to conventional internal combustion engines. The final reason for choosing electric propulsion is to explore the feasibility of this technology in a commercially viable single propeller aircraft. The basic design philosophy behind the DA-II is to build an easily maintainable, efficient aircraft that could be used in general aviation. Due to its high specific energy density, i.e., the amount of energy stored in a given system or region of space per unit volume or mass depending on the context, a proton exchange membrane (PEM) hydrogen fuel cell system is used as the primary power plant for the DA-II. In order to better understand the design and performance tradeoffs for a hydrogen fuel cell and its feasibility on electric powered aircraft, a conceptual design study of a small-scale aircraft is performed. A propulsion system consisting of a liquid cooled PEM fuel cell with cryogenic liquid hydrogen storage powering a single electric pusher propeller motor is chosen. The aerodynamic configuration consists of a high-aspect ratio un-tapered wing and fuselage with single T-tail. Several aircraft design trade studies are done and the most efficient parameters for the DA-II aircraft are chosen. The results showed that the electric powered aircraft is feasible. However, the analysis also showed that a design of an electric powered aircraft using fuel cell energy did not produce the best aircraft design for either long range or long endurance. Technology is still immature for these high expectations. Additional improvements in energy storage density are needed to achieve the performance needed for strong market acceptance.
Green Aviation is the first authoritative overview of both engineering and operational measures to mitigate the environmental impact of aviation. It addresses the current status of measures to reduce the environmental impact of air travel. The chapters cover such items as: Engineering and technology-related subjects (aerodynamics, engines, fuels, structures, etc.), Operations (air traffic management and infrastructure) Policy and regulatory aspects regarding atmospheric and noise pollution. With contributions from leading experts, this volume is intended to be a valuable addition, and useful resource, for aerospace manufacturers and suppliers, governmental and industrial aerospace research establishments, airline and aviation industries, university engineering and science departments, and industry analysts, consultants, and researchers.
This book highlights the latest research in the field of Sustainable Aviation. In recent decades, there have been considerable improvements in aircraft efficiency and noise reduction. However, with the demand for both passenger and freight transportation expected to increase significantly in future years, the aviation sector is becoming a growing source of environmental problems and a major contributor to global warming. Focusing on the need to address this mounting problem, this book discusses important new trends and outlines likely future developments in carbon emission reduction, carbon trading, and the impact of emerging technologies, as well as social, legal, and regulatory changes as they pertain to the aviation sector. The book offers an invaluable reference guide for practitioners, regulators, academics, and students alike, in fields ranging from business and engineering to the social sciences. It can be used as a textbook, and will benefit anyone interested in the future of aviation and our planet.
This report assesses the potential of hydrogen (H2) propulsion to reduce aviation's climate impact. To reduce climate impact, the industry will have to introduce further levers such as radically new technology, significantly scale sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) such as synthetic fuel (synfuel), temporarily rely on offsets in large quantities, or rely on a combination thereof. H2 propulsion is one such technology, and this report assesses its potential in aviation. Developed with input from leading companies and research institutes, it projects the technological development of H2 combustion and fuel cell-powered propulsion, evaluates their technical and economic feasibility, compares them to synfuel, and considers implications on aircraft design, airport infrastructure, and fuel supply chains.
