TY - JOUR
T1 - Methodology for Assessing Retrofitted Hydrogen Combustion and Fuel Cell Aircraft Environmental Impacts
AU - Alsamri, Khaled
AU - De la Cruz, Jessica
AU - Emmanouilidi, Melody
AU - Huynh, Jacqueline
AU - Brouwer, Jack
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 by Alsamri, K., Rezaei, S., Chung, V., Huynh, J., and Brouwer, J.
PY - 2024/9
Y1 - 2024/9
N2 - Hydrogen (H2) combustion and solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) can potentially reduce aviation-produced greenhouse gas emissions compared to kerosene propulsion. This paper outlines a methodology for evaluating performance and emission tradeoffs when retrofitting conventional kerosene-powered aircraft with lower-emission H2 combustion and SOFC hybrid alternatives. The proposed framework presents a constant-range approach for designing liquid hydrogen fuel tanks, considering insulation, sizing, center of gravity, and power constraints. A lifecycle assessment evaluates greenhouse gas emissions and contrail formation effects for carbon footprint mitigation, while a cost analysis examines retrofit implementation consequences. A Cessna Citation 560XLS+ case study shows a 5% mass decrease for H2 combustion and a 0.4% mass decrease for the SOFC hybrid, at the tradeoff of removing three passengers. The lifecycle analysis of green hydrogen in aviation reveals a significant reduction in CO2 emissions for H2 combustion and SOFC systems, except for natural-gas-produced H2 combustion, when compared to Jet-A fuel. However, this environmental benefit is contrasted by an increase in fuel cost per passenger-km for green H2 combustion and a rise for natural-gas-produced H2 SOFC compared to kerosene. The results suggest that retrofitting aircraft with alternative fuels could lower carbon emissions, noting the economic and passenger capacity tradeoffs.
AB - Hydrogen (H2) combustion and solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) can potentially reduce aviation-produced greenhouse gas emissions compared to kerosene propulsion. This paper outlines a methodology for evaluating performance and emission tradeoffs when retrofitting conventional kerosene-powered aircraft with lower-emission H2 combustion and SOFC hybrid alternatives. The proposed framework presents a constant-range approach for designing liquid hydrogen fuel tanks, considering insulation, sizing, center of gravity, and power constraints. A lifecycle assessment evaluates greenhouse gas emissions and contrail formation effects for carbon footprint mitigation, while a cost analysis examines retrofit implementation consequences. A Cessna Citation 560XLS+ case study shows a 5% mass decrease for H2 combustion and a 0.4% mass decrease for the SOFC hybrid, at the tradeoff of removing three passengers. The lifecycle analysis of green hydrogen in aviation reveals a significant reduction in CO2 emissions for H2 combustion and SOFC systems, except for natural-gas-produced H2 combustion, when compared to Jet-A fuel. However, this environmental benefit is contrasted by an increase in fuel cost per passenger-km for green H2 combustion and a rise for natural-gas-produced H2 SOFC compared to kerosene. The results suggest that retrofitting aircraft with alternative fuels could lower carbon emissions, noting the economic and passenger capacity tradeoffs.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85203382403
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85203382403#tab=citedBy
U2 - 10.2514/1.B39405
DO - 10.2514/1.B39405
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85203382403
SN - 0748-4658
VL - 40
SP - 661
EP - 676
JO - Journal of Propulsion and Power
JF - Journal of Propulsion and Power
IS - 5
ER -