Title:
Thermodynamic Analysis of the Use of Biomass Derived Liquid Hydrogen in Aviation for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell- Gas Turbine Powered Aircraft
Author(s):
Fernandes, A., Woudstra, T., Aravind, P.V.
Document(s):
Paper
Poster
Abstract:
High Altitude Long Endurance Aircrafts (HALE UAVs) are required for science, civil and military missions. In the design, variables such as weight and volume are the most important ones. Hence systems with high energy conversion efficiency such as fuel cells fueled with high specific energy fuels are the best candidates to power those aircrafts.“Well-to-wheel” exergy efficiencies of converting feedstock into mechanical work when using biomass derived liquid hydrogen as the fuel for fuel cell based propulsion systems for HALE UAVs is studied and the results presented. The project was divided in two stages: feedstock-to-pump and pump-to-mechanical work. In the first stage, biomass gasification process based on a fast internal circulating fluidized bed gasifier and hydrogen liquefaction were modeled based on existing plants. The second stage was based on optimized fuel cell propulsion system for the aircraft. The aircraft design used as reference was a concept developed by NASA. Results showed that the SOFC/GT (Solid Oxide Fuel Cell/Gas Turbine) system provides high exergy efficiencies when compared to the competing propulsion systems but the conventional hydrogen liquefaction process causes significant exergy losses making the total chain not very efficient. Hence alternate options need to be looked into.
Keywords:
biomass, circulating fluidised bed (CFB), efficiency, hydrogen, liquefaction, circulating fluidized bed (CFB), fuel cell, exergy
Topic:
R&D on Processes for Solid, Liquid and Gaseous Fuels from Biomass
Subtopic:
Biofuel production from synthesis gas
Event:
21st European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
3DV.1.46
Pages:
1562 - 1569
ISBN:
978-88-89407-53-0
Paper DOI:
10.5071/21stEUBCE2013-3DV.1.46
Price:
FREE
