Session: 01-07 Thermal Management Systems and Heat Exchangers

Paper Number: 153593

Thermal Management System Modelling for Liquid Hydrogen-Fueled Hybrid Electric Aircraft 

The aviation industry is undergoing a significant transformation as it seeks to align with global sustainability goals, particularly the ambition to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Conventional aircraft, which rely on fossil fuels, are responsible for a substantial portion of global greenhouse gas emissions. As a result, there is an urgent need to develop alternative propulsion systems that minimize carbon footprints while maintaining performance standards. Hybrid electric aircraft, powered by a combination of hydrogen, fuel cells, and battery systems, represent one of the most promising pathways toward sustainable aviation. Hydrogen is a clean energy carrier with the potential to significantly reduce emissions, while fuel cells and batteries enable efficient energy storage and conversion. However, integrating these technologies presents significant thermal management challenges, which must be addressed to ensure safe and efficient operation.

In this study, we present a modeling and simulation of a thermal management system (TMS) designed for hybrid electric aircraft powered by liquid hydrogen (LH2), fuel cells, and battery systems.  This paper addresses these challenges by developing a TMS model that efficiently regulates the temperature of the fuel cells, batteries, and associated electronic components while maintaining overall system performance. The proposed system employs a multi-loop architecture, combining active and passive cooling techniques, such as liquid cooling and heat exchangers with liquid hydrogen as heat sink which is typically stored in a tank at cryogenic temperatures (~20 K).  The effectiveness of the TMS under different flight conditions, including various power loads is evaluated.

Presenting Author: Georgios Koudounas Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Presenting Author Biography: Georgios is a Master's student at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

Authors:

Georgios Koudounas Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Avinash Renuke Malardalen University
Dimitrios Bermperis Malardalen University
Hao Chen Malardalen University
Jim Claesson Modelon
Konstantinos Kyprianidis Malardalen University