Enabling Cryogenic Hydrogen-Based CO2-Free Air Transport

Greening civil aviation is key to our global future. So radical aircraft propulsion technologies must be developed urgently. Most likely to succeed in this grand challenge (promising full decarbonisation) are hydrogen (H2) and electrification. H2 is an inevitable solution for a fully sustainable aviation future, via hybrid/fuel cell technologies for short to medium range and H2 combustion in gas turbines for longer missions.

This presentation provides an overview of the ongoing EU H2020 "ENABLing CryogEnic Hydrogen-Based CO2-free Air Transport"  (ENABLEH2) project being coordinated by Cranfield University. The case for LH2 for civil aviation is discussed followed by the strategic importance and overall scope of ENABLEH2. A summary of the key achievements to date is presented for the ENABLEH2 research on: Ultra-low NOx hydrogen micromix combustion; Fuel system heat management – to exploit the formidable heat sink potential of LH2; as well as Safety and LH2 Aircraft "Technology Evaluation".