Energy transition in aviation: the role of cryogenic fuels

Review (2020)

Authors

A. Gangoli Rao Flight Performance and Propulsion - Aerospace Engineering
F. Yin Aircraft Noise and Climate Effects - Aerospace Engineering
H.G.C. Werij Aerospace Engineering
Research Group
Flight Performance and Propulsion (Aerospace Engineering) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2020 A. Gangoli Rao, F. Yin, H.G.C. Werij
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace7120181
Energy transition Aviation Hybrid aircraft Liquid hydrogen Sustainable aviation Cryogenic fuels Liquefied natural gas
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Published Date

2020

Language

English

Faculty

Aerospace Engineering

Department

Flow Physics and Technology

Research Group

Flight Performance and Propulsion

Abstract

Aviation is the backbone of our modern society. In 2019, around 4.5 billion passengers travelled through the air. However, at the same time, aviation was also responsible for around 5% of anthropogenic causes of global warming. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the aviation sector in the short term is clearly very high, but the long-term effects are still unknown. However, with the increase in global GDP, the number of travelers is expected to increase between three-to four-fold by the middle of this century. While other sectors of transportation are making steady progress in decarbonizing, aviation is falling behind. This paper explores some of the various options for energy carriers in aviation and particularly highlights the possibilities and challenges of using cryogenic fuels/energy carriers such as liquid hydrogen (LH
2) and liquefied natural gas (LNG).