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Liquid hydrogen storage, thermal management, and transfer-control system for integrated zero emission aviation (IZEA)

Author

Listed:
  • Virdi, Parmit S.
  • Guo, Wei
  • Cattafesta, Louis N.
  • Cheetham, Peter
  • Cooley, Lance
  • Gladin, Jonathan C.
  • He, Jiangbiao
  • Kim, Chul
  • Li, Hui
  • Ordonez, Juan
  • Pamidi, Sastry
  • Zheng, Jian-Ping

Abstract

The rapid growth of the aviation sector underscores the urgent need to reduce carbon and contrail emissions, key contributors to climate change. Hydrogen, with its high specific chemical energy, emerges as a promising clean fuel alternative. To promote sustainable aviation, we propose an innovative design for a liquid hydrogen storage, thermal management, and transfer-control system tailored for Integrated Zero Emission Aviation (IZEA). Our design harnesses the cooling power of liquid hydrogen to manage the temperature and thermal loads on essential power system components. By regulating the pressure in the storage tank, we demonstrate the feasibility of delivering the required hydrogen mass flow rates—up to 0.25 kg/s—to meet a peak power demand of 16.2 MW for a prototype 100-passenger hybrid-electric aircraft, while efficiently cooling the power system using practical heat exchangers. Through comprehensive system-level optimization, we have identified the optimal tank and heat exchanger configurations that maximize the overall gravimetric index to a value of 0.62, where the index is defined as the ratio of the hydrogen fuel mass to the total mass of the fuel, storage tank, and thermal management system. Our findings emphasize the critical importance of system-level optimization in determining key design parameters, paving the way for zero-emission aviation technologies and advancing environmental sustainability in the aviation industry.

Suggested Citation

  • Virdi, Parmit S. & Guo, Wei & Cattafesta, Louis N. & Cheetham, Peter & Cooley, Lance & Gladin, Jonathan C. & He, Jiangbiao & Kim, Chul & Li, Hui & Ordonez, Juan & Pamidi, Sastry & Zheng, Jian-Ping, 2025. "Liquid hydrogen storage, thermal management, and transfer-control system for integrated zero emission aviation (IZEA)," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 393(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:393:y:2025:i:c:s0306261925007846
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2025.126054
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Tao Lei & Zhihao Min & Qinxiang Gao & Lina Song & Xingyu Zhang & Xiaobin Zhang, 2022. "The Architecture Optimization and Energy Management Technology of Aircraft Power Systems: A Review and Future Trends," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-37, June.
    2. Christopher Winnefeld & Thomas Kadyk & Boris Bensmann & Ulrike Krewer & Richard Hanke-Rauschenbach, 2018. "Modelling and Designing Cryogenic Hydrogen Tanks for Future Aircraft Applications," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-23, January.
    3. Akshay Nag Srinath & Álvaro Pena López & Seyed Alireza Miran Fashandi & Sylvain Lechat & Giampiero di Legge & Seyed Ali Nabavi & Theoklis Nikolaidis & Soheil Jafari, 2022. "Thermal Management System Architecture for Hydrogen-Powered Propulsion Technologies: Practices, Thematic Clusters, System Architectures, Future Challenges, and Opportunities," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-45, January.
    4. Baroutaji, Ahmad & Wilberforce, Tabbi & Ramadan, Mohamad & Olabi, Abdul Ghani, 2019. "Comprehensive investigation on hydrogen and fuel cell technology in the aviation and aerospace sectors," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 31-40.
    5. Talal Yusaf & Louis Fernandes & Abd Rahim Abu Talib & Yazan S. M. Altarazi & Waleed Alrefae & Kumaran Kadirgama & Devarajan Ramasamy & Aruna Jayasuriya & Gordon Brown & Rizalman Mamat & Hayder Al Dhah, 2022. "Sustainable Aviation—Hydrogen Is the Future," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-17, January.
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