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OCTOBER 2020 HYDROGEN IN AVIATION Engine-Makers Face Hydrogen For direct hydrogen combustion, most propulsion studies are zeroing Combustion Challenges in on the 20,000-40,000-lb.-thrust range of current single-aisle aircraft ™ > THERMAL MANAGEMENT, EMBRITTLEMENT AND SEALING engines. Regardless of whether or not ARE KEY ISSUES hydrogen is adopted for this sector, engine-makers believe the long-range > INDUSTRIAL POWER AND ROCKET EXPERIENCE WILL AID DESIGN widebody fleet will continue to rely on current and future generations of tur- Guy Norris Los Angeles bofans—but powered by sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). ngine-makers have long stud- However, engine-makers, the power Aside from the considerable chal- ied hydrogen as an alternative brokers of the industry, have mixed lenges of developing lightweight, insu- Eto conventional jet fuel. But views on the realities of the rush to lated high-strength fuel tanks and does the European-led decarboniza- hydrogen—particularly the ambitious systems on the airframe side, en - tion push mean aviation will finally timelines for adoption outlined by Air- gine-makers say the key challenges adopt the most abundant chemical bus. While clearly supporting the sus- depend on first answering the princi- substance in the universe? tainability goals of the initiative, they pal question: Is the hydrogen gaseous The short answer is almost certainly caution that many technical, safety, or liquid? “If it’s gaseous, then the Accelerating “yes.” Previous attempts, all driven by certification and operational hurdles problem is relatively straightforward, different motivations, were not backed remain before hydrogen can be con- because the pressure from the tank by inclusion in national government sidered sufficiently mature for main- drives the hydrogen into the engine. So then it becomes effectively a metering problem,” says Alan Newby, Rolls- Royce director of aerospace technol- Virtual ogy and future programs. Hydrogen combustors, like this Micromix concept, will be shorter and incorporate thousands of very small injectors. Valving, metering and system leak- age are more challenging because diatomic hydrogen is the smallest molecule that exists and one that diffuses most easily into surrounding materials such as metals, which can become embrittled. Airbus prefers liquid hydrogen for ENABLEH2 its single-aisle airliner concept be- cause of the greater potential storage volume and therefore greater range. “In that case, you have two choices,” energy-policy agendas or the promise stream commercial aircraft propul- Newby says. “The question is, How of investments to engineer wholesale sion—especially for direct combustion long are you leaving it in liquid form? modifications to energy system infra- in turbofans in place of kerosene. We know from rocket experience that structure—both of which appear to be Although some at engine manufac- we can pump hydrogen, so that’s not new factors underpinning Europe’s re- turers see a nearer-term path toward a problem. But then do you meter in cent pivot toward hydrogen. the development and application of its liquid form—which is closer to how In the 1950s, U.S. studies evaluated hydrogen fuel cells in civil transports, we manage kerosene today—or do you Engineering’s hydrogen for its potential to boost the most believe the road toward direct meter it in a gaseous form? We’re do- performance of high-altitude military combustion will be longer and more ing the trades on those to see which New Twist aircraft. The 1970s oil crisis sparked difficult. One of the key challenges is makes most sense.” studies of alternative fuels—including that although liquid hydrogen (LH2) Metering in a gaseous form oper- hydrogen—to reduce Western depen- has three times the energy density of ated successfully in early 1957 in a dence on the Middle East. In the 1980s kerosene, it occupies more than four modified Martin B-57B, marking the MIDTIER and 1990s, concerns over potential oil times the volume for the same amount first flight of a hydrogen-fueled jet air- shortages again brought hydrogen of energy. Because the drag penalty of craft. Powered by a specially adapted AFTERMARKET back into the mix, particularly in an LH2- fueled aircraft would be prohib- Wright J65, the license-built version of Europe. But climate change and the itive for long-range routes, industry fo- the Rolls-Royce heritage Armstrong Ripe for M&A search for sustainability have thrust cus has been on hydrogen-powered re- Siddeley Sapphire, the experimen- hydrogen back into the spotlight. gional and short-to-midrange airliners. tal B-57B project was developed by 38 AVIATION WEEK & SPACE TECHNOLOGY/OCTOBER 12-25, 2020 AviationWeek.com/AWST Digital Edition Copyright Notice The content contained in this digital edition (“Digital Material”), as well as its selection and arrangement, is owned by Informa. and its affiliated companies, licensors, and suppliers, and is protected by their respective copyright, trademark and other proprietary rights. 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NEITHER Informa NOR ANY THIRD PARTY CONTENT PROVIDER OR THEIR AGENTS SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY ACT, DIRECT OR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF OR ACCESS TO ANY DIGITAL MATERIAL, AND/OR ANY INFORMATION CONTAINED THEREIN. YOU DO YOU WE’LL DO THE WHEELS AND BRAKES WHEELS AND BRAKES IT’S THAT SIMPLE TPAEROSPACE.COM InsideMRO Contents MRO 4 NEWS BRIEFS & CONTRACTS MAINTENANCE CHECK SAFETY & REGULATORY MRO 6 New GP2700 Inspections MRO 7 Evacuation Data Numbers Game MRO 8 ARSA Update tatistics have become AIRLINE INSIGHT a big part of our daily MRO 9 Malaysia Airlines How Malaysia Airlines is lives and affect what we using technology to meet S do. The number of people who The ebb and flow of supply chain demands are infected with COVID-19 in parked aircraft is REGIONAL FOCUS particular geographies affects starting to change. MRO 12 Snapshot of European MRO where we can (or should) go. COVID-19 Adjustments New services and tech, From a business perspective, we ea- Airlines are making decisions about layoffs and buyouts dominate the landscape gerly watch passenger-traffic figures, ·their future fleets. Australia’s Regional the percentage of fleets that are flying Express Holdings (Rex) will lease six TECHNOLOGY and flight hours to monitor the com- Boeing 737-800s to begin U.S. East MRO 14 MROs Adapt to Pandemic mercial aviation industry’s recovery. Coast routes in March. Alaska Air- Challenges by Going Virtual This numbers game can feel like a lines is accelerating the retirement of Aftermarket companies are roller coaster, except the downward 10 Airbus A320s, as it appears to be adapting to technology to part is more scary than hands-up-in seriously considering moving to an all- meet their needs during the the-air thrilling. Boeing fleet. Avianca resumed flying COVID-19 crisis For instance, recently Alexandre de in September after a five-month stop MRO 19 Slow Progress Juniac, director general and CEO of the and is focusing on Airbus A320s for Electronic tech log adoption International Air Transport Associ- domestic and Boeing 787s for interna- is still minimal, despite its ation (IATA), said: “August’s disastrous tional flights. Delta Air Lines is launch- benefits over paper traffic performance puts a cap on the ing the Airbus A220-300 in November industry’s worst-ever summer season. and will retire its 717s, 767-300s and OPERATIONS International demand recovery is vir- Bombardier CRJ-200s by 2025. MRO 22 Wind and Fire tually nonexistent, and domestic mar- Carriers such as Air Seychelles, Protecting aircraft from kets in Australia and Japan actually ·Qatar and United Airlines are resum- typhoons and other natural disasters regressed in the face of new outbreaks ing some international routes. and travel restrictions. A few months The ebb and flow of parked aircraft SUPPLY CHAIN ago, we thought that a full-year fall in ·is starting to change. Ascent Aviation MRO 23 Looming Deal Heralds Change demand of -63% compared to 2019 was Services is seeing almost an equal Potential TransDigm as bad as it could get. With the dismal number of aircraft returning to service acquisition of Triumph peak summer travel period behind as are coming in to be parked.It also could reshape the us, we have revised our expectations is beginning to see increased demand aftermarket landscape downward to -66%.” for teardowns.