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If this is the only practical solution for hydrogen fuelled aircraft, then it can't fail in passenger markets because there will be no other alternative to comp

If this is the only practical solution for hydrogen fuelled aircraft, then it can't fail in passenger markets because there will be no other alternative to compete against once kerosene is too ecologically taxed.

jaipilot747 3y ago
Is there even a hydrogen turbojet engine?
- twic 3y ago
  Maybe not in service, but it's been done: https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/rolls-royce-successfully-tests-hydrogen-powered-jet-engine-2022-11-28/ https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/rolls-roy...
- moffkalast 3y ago
  Afaik it's one of the three H2 airframe options Airbus is pursuing. https://www.airbus.com/en/innovation/low-carbon-aviation/hydrogen/zeroe https://www.airbus.com/en/innovation/low-carbon-aviation/hyd... The general idea is to use liquid H2, like the old KN-88 design. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuznetsov_NK-88 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuznetsov_NK-88
twic 3y ago
If you can make carbon-neutral hydrogen, you can combine it with atmospheric CO2 to make synthetic hydrocarbons (or methanol) that are carbon-neutral. There's an energy cost to doing this, but I'm willing to bet it far outweighs the costs of running an airliner on hydrogen.
- Turskarama 3y ago
  I'm not so sure. The big issue with Hydrogen is transport, it's an absolute pain to deliver it to fuel stations all over the country. With planes though, you only need to deliver it to an airport. Airports are also very frequently placed next to large bodies of water, so with enough electricity you could make it on site. I'm willing to bet that Hydrogen will never take off for cars, but I think it could have a place for planes and ships, and even trucks in some situations.
pfdietz 3y ago
The already-reduced carbon in the US waste stream is more than enough to make synthetic jet fuel to supply the entire current US demand. More generally, biomass (including crop waste) will suffice to power aviation world wide, without large increase in farm area.

jaipilot747 3y ago

Is there even a hydrogen turbojet engine?

twic 3y ago
Maybe not in service, but it's been done: https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/rolls-royce-successfully-tests-hydrogen-powered-jet-engine-2022-11-28/ https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/rolls-roy...
moffkalast 3y ago
Afaik it's one of the three H2 airframe options Airbus is pursuing. https://www.airbus.com/en/innovation/low-carbon-aviation/hydrogen/zeroe https://www.airbus.com/en/innovation/low-carbon-aviation/hyd... The general idea is to use liquid H2, like the old KN-88 design. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuznetsov_NK-88 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuznetsov_NK-88

twic 3y ago

If you can make carbon-neutral hydrogen, you can combine it with atmospheric CO2 to make synthetic hydrocarbons (or methanol) that are carbon-neutral. There's an energy cost to doing this, but I'm willing to bet it far outweighs the costs of running an airliner on hydrogen.

Turskarama 3y ago
I'm not so sure. The big issue with Hydrogen is transport, it's an absolute pain to deliver it to fuel stations all over the country. With planes though, you only need to deliver it to an airport. Airports are also very frequently placed next to large bodies of water, so with enough electricity you could make it on site. I'm willing to bet that Hydrogen will never take off for cars, but I think it could have a place for planes and ships, and even trucks in some situations.

pfdietz 3y ago

The already-reduced carbon in the US waste stream is more than enough to make synthetic jet fuel to supply the entire current US demand. More generally, biomass (including crop waste) will suffice to power aviation world wide, without large increase in farm area.