Session: 03-02 Ammonia as Fuel and Hydrogen Carrier – Combustion, Storage, and Safety II

Submission Number: 178975

Considerations for Ammonia-Fuelled Aircraft and Propulsion Systems: A Component-Level and System Analysis 

Alternative fuels for aviation as substitutes for Jet-A are a subject of global investigation. Ammonia has emerged as a potential candidate due to its robust supply chain, technological maturity, and global infrastructure. Ammonia combustion at scale has been successfully demonstrated in gas turbines for power generation. This paper investigates the potential of ammonia as a hydrogen carrier for use in aircraft. A modern single-aisle airliner with two state-of-the-art high-bypass turbofans is assumed to be powered by ammonia. System trade-off analysis is performed considering the impact of weight and fuel volume on the payload range performance of the aircraft. Concepts for on-board fuel storage are presented and evaluated. A proposed supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) cycle for waste heat energy harvesting and thermal management of the ammonia is explored and assessed. The system integration, including a transient analysis and heat exchanger design, is presented. Alternative thermal management concepts through direct heat transfer are explored on a cycle performance basis and thrust-specific fuel consumption. The combustion system is designed to burn ammonia-hydrogen mixtures. The significant hazards, volatility, and technical challenges of utilizing ammonia as an aviation fuel are acknowledged; potential design modifications to address combustion inefficiencies, emissions limitations, and operational and safety concerns are discussed. Kinetic models and combustor designs are presented for use in commercial turbofan engines. An integrated ammonia cracking system and novel catalysts are experimentally explored and presented. Ultimately, a technology maturation plan through real engine ground testing is described.

Presenting Author: Marcel Otto University of Central Florida

Presenting Author Biography: Marcel Otto is an Assistant Professor at the University of Central Florida. As part of CATER, the Center for Advanced Turbomachinery and Energy Research, he actively conducts research in the aera of non-carbon fuels for power generation and aviation, energy storage through hydrogen or molten salt.
He holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Central Florida and previous degrees from TU Berlin.

Authors:

Marcel Otto University of Central Florida
Ramees Rahman University of Central Florida
Jonathan Gladin Georgia Tech
William Andress Purdue University
Guillermo Barrios Cardenas University of Central Florida
Chintan Rank Purdue University
Saqib Shahzad University of Central Florida
Kangana Patel University of Central Florida
Benjamin Turner University of Central Florida
Connor Wall University of Central Florida
Richard Blair University of Central Florida
David Zamora University of Central Florida
Yu Cai Georgia Tech
Venkat Athmanathan Purdue University
Keith Mcmanus GE Aerospace
Guillermo Paniagua Purdue University
Terrence Meyer Purdue University
Subith Vasu University of Central Florida
Jayanta Kapat University of Central Florida