NASA Funds Development of Hybrid Hydrogen-Based Aircraft Engine
Air travel is responsible for approximately 2.5 percent of global CO2 emissions, and efforts to reduce this impact have been ongoing for years with limited success. However, NASA, the US Aeronautics administration, is making strides towards a more sustainable future for air travel.
Phillip Ansell from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign recently received a grant from NASA’s Institute for Advanced Concepts (NIAC) to develop a hybrid hydrogen-based aircraft engine called the Hydrogen Hybrid Power for Aviation Sustainable Systems (Hy2PASS) engine. This innovative engine combines a fuel cell and a gas turbine to power an aircraft, with a focus on air handling as a key component.
In traditional hybrid aircraft systems, a fuel cell generates electrical energy from hydrogen to power a compressor connected to a turbine. However, the Hy2PASS engine decouples the compressor from the turbine while still supplying oxygen to both components. This design improves efficiency by eliminating waste heat and allowing for variable compressor pressure optimization.
This innovative approach not only increases efficiency but also reduces emissions to essentially just water, making it a promising solution for sustainable air travel. The Phase I NIAC grant will focus on proving the concept and optimizing the system for future use in aircraft.
Dr. Ansell’s successful track record in meeting NASA’s design objectives gives hope that this hydrogen-powered aircraft engine could revolutionize the industry and significantly reduce emissions from air travel. With further development and testing, this technology could play a vital role in creating a greener future for aviation.
This article was originally published by Universe Today. Read the original article.
