Compact heat exchangers for hydrogen-fueled aero engine intercooling and recuperation
Journal article, 2024

This study investigates the application of compact heat exchangers for the purpose of intercooling and recuperation systems for short-to-medium range aircraft equipped with hydrogen-fueled turbofan engines. The primary objective is to assess the potential effects of engine-integrated compact heat exchangers on fuel consumption and emissions. The paper encompasses the conceptual design of integrated heat exchangers and associated ducts, followed by aerodynamic optimization studies to identify suitable designs that minimize air-side pressure losses and ensure flow uniformity at the inlet of the high-pressure compressor. Pressure drop correlations are then established for selected duct designs and incorporated into a system-level performance model, allowing for a comparison of their impact on specific fuel consumption, NOx emissions, and fuel burn against an uncooled baseline engine. The intercooled-recuperated engine resulted in the most significant improvement in take-off specific fuel consumption, with a reduction of up to 7.7% compared to the baseline uncooled engine, whereas the best intercooled engine resulted in an improvement of about 4%. Furthermore, the best configuration demonstrated a decrease in NOx emissions by up to 37% at take-off and a reduction in mission fuel burn by 5.5%. These enhancements were attributed to reduced compression work, pre-heating of the hydrogen fuel, and lower high-pressure compressor outlet temperatures.

Recuperation

Heat exchangers

CFD

Emissions

Hydrogen

Cryogenics

Intercooling

Author

Alexandre Capitao Patrao

Chalmers, Mechanics and Maritime Sciences (M2), Fluid Dynamics

Isak Jonsson

Chalmers, Mechanics and Maritime Sciences (M2), Fluid Dynamics

Carlos Xisto

Chalmers, Mechanics and Maritime Sciences (M2), Fluid Dynamics

Anders Lundbladh

Chalmers, Mechanics and Maritime Sciences (M2)

Tomas Grönstedt

Chalmers, Mechanics and Maritime Sciences (M2), Fluid Dynamics

Applied Thermal Engineering

1359-4311 (ISSN)

Vol. 243 122538

Pathways for a sustainable introduction of hydrogen into the aviation sector

Chalmers, 2022-01-01 -- 2023-12-31.

Enabling cryogenic hydrogen-based CO2-free air transport (ENABLEH2)

European Commission (EC) (EC/H2020/769241), 2018-09-01 -- 2021-08-31.

Driving Forces

Sustainable development

Areas of Advance

Transport

Subject Categories

Aerospace Engineering

Energy Engineering

Vehicle Engineering

Infrastructure

C3SE (Chalmers Centre for Computational Science and Engineering)

DOI

10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2024.122538

More information

Latest update

6/25/2024