Title: A review on potential use of hydrogen in aviation applications

Authors: Ibrahim Dincer; Canan Acar

Addresses: Clean Energy Research Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, 2000 Simcoe Street North, Oshawa, Ontario, L1H 7K4, Canada ' Clean Energy Research Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, 2000 Simcoe Street North, Oshawa, Ontario, L1H 7K4, Canada

Abstract: In this paper, utilisation of hydrogen as an alternative aviation fuel is reviewed, along with some past and present-day activities, covering three critical topics of energy consumption, environmental impact and emission related cost. It also evaluates the energy consumptions, environmental impacts, emission-related costs of jet fuel A, natural gas and hydrogen from selected production methods in short and long distance aircrafts. Furthermore, costs and efficiencies of hydrogen production from steam methane reforming and wind, PV, and hydro-based electrolysis are compared for a more detailed comparative assessment. Aviation fuel evaluation results show that hydrogen from hydro- and wind-based electrolysis is a promising clean, efficient and less costly candidate among the selected fuels in this study. The assessment study shows that compared to selected hydrogen production options, hydro-based electrolysis is the most advantageous one.

Keywords: alternative fuels; aviation fuel; hydrogen production; aircraft emissions; energy consumption; environmental impact; emission related costs; natural gas; electrolysis; clean fuels.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSA.2016.076077

International Journal of Sustainable Aviation, 2016 Vol.2 No.1, pp.74 - 100

Received: 21 Aug 2015
Accepted: 02 Feb 2016

Published online: 22 Apr 2016 *

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