Electric and hydrogen propulsion

Question 1

1) what are the current electric propulsion technologies?

Answer 1

• Battery powered propulsion
• Solar powered propulsion
• Hydrogen fuel cell powered propulsion
• Hybrid powered propulsion

Question 2

2) what are the current challenges of using hydrogen for aviation? what is the current method to use hydrogen for long distance flight?

Answer 2

• Hydrogen has low volumetric energy density and requires storage under high pressure or liquid
• For long distance flight the primary current method used for hydrogen propulsion is the direct combustion of hydrogen

Question 3

3) How do you value the role of ammonia for clean propulsion?

Answer 3

• Ammonia has a low flame speed, making it unsuitable for combustion.
• Ammonia has a Higher energy density than hydrogen and can be used as a storage material for cracking into hydrogen and nitrogen
• Ammonia can also be used in fuel cells, considering its fuel characteristics without combustion features.

Question 4

What are the challenges of electric propulsion in terms of power and range?

Answer 4

Electric propulsion currently faces limitations in energy density of batteries, leading to shorter ranges and less power compared to conventional engines.

Question 5

Why is hydrogen combustion considered advantageous for long-range aircraft?

Answer 5

Hydrogen has a higher energy per unit mass than jet fuel, making it suitable for long-range flights with lower environmental impact.

Question 6

What are the storage challenges for hydrogen in aircraft?

Answer 6

Hydrogen requires cryogenic storage or high-pressure tanks, presenting issues with volume, weight, and safety.