Pratt & Whitney the U.S. engine manufacturer has been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Energy Research Projects Agency to develop high-efficiency hydrogen-fueled propulsion technology for commercial aircraft.
The Hydrogen Steam Injected, Inter-Cooled Turbine Engine (HySIITE) project proposal is as follows. To use liquid hydrogen combustion and water vapor recovery to achieve zero carbon dioxide emissions during commercial aircraft operations. And at the same time reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by up to 80 percent.
For Geoff Hunt, Pratt & Whitney’s senior vice president of Engineering and Technology, «this is a really exciting opportunity to begin developing the key technologies that could make the industry’s first hydrogen vapor-injected, inter-cooled engine a reality.»
Hunt added, «For nearly 100 years, Pratt & Whitney has been at the forefront of innovating breakthrough technologies to continually improve the efficiency of aircraft engines, and we are delighted to have been selected to work on what could be the next revolutionary technology for aviation.»
The first joint work experience between the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Energy Research Projects Agency and Pratt & Whitney will develop the HySIITE engine, which, according to the manufacturer, «will burn hydrogen in a thermodynamic engine cycle that incorporates steam injection to dramatically reduce emissions of NOx, a greenhouse gas. The semi-closed system architecture planned for HySIITE will achieve higher thermal efficiency than fuel cells. This will reduce overall operating costs compared to using ‘direct’ sustainable aviation fuels.»
Chief Sustainability Officer word:
«Pratt & Whitney has a long legacy with hydrogen-powered propulsion, and we are excited to advance this emerging technology as part of our comprehensive strategy to support the aviation industry’s ambitious goal of achieving zero net CO2 emissions from aircraft by 2050,» said Graham Webb, Pratt & Whitney’s chief sustainability officer.
«Partnerships with public agencies such as the Department of Energy have a vital role to play in developing and maturing technologies. They could have a global impact on reducing aviation’s environmental footprint,» he concluded.
With this project, Pratt & Whitney is adding a new initiative to contribute to the decarbonization of the industry for the future. With the immediate application, it is already working with airlines and aircraft manufacturers to promote the use of 100% sustainable aviation fuel in their engines.
