A Computational Study of a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell-Turbofan Engine Hybrid Propulsion System Fueled by Ammonia and Hydrogen

Wagner, Luca; Tingas, Efstathios-Al.

Abstract

This study presents the theoretical evaluation of a hybrid aero-propulsion system that combines a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) with a commercial turbofan engine (JT9D), fuelled by an ammonia and hydrogen fuel blend, the latter produced by an onboard fuel reformer. As concerns over emissions from the aviation sector continue to rise along with the ongoing search for sustainable energy alternatives, this research investigates the thermodynamic performance, environmental impacts, and operational efficiencies of the proposed SOFC-turbofan hybrid system. A new hybrid model is developed on the basis of NASA’s well-established T-MATS model. Comprehensive parametric studies are carried out to evaluate the system’s performance under a range of operational parameters, such as altitude, flight conditions, equivalence ratio, and compressor pressure ratio. Emission analyses revealed that the use of the proposed fuel blend of ammonia/hydrogen resulted in low emissions, demonstrating the system’s potential for significantly reducing the environmental footprint of aviation propulsion systems. This research not only substantiates the feasibility of integrating SOFCs with existing turbofan technology but also highlights the substantial improvements in efficiency and reductions in emissions that such hybrid systems could offer.

Citation

Wagner, L., & Tingas, E.-A. (2025, January). A Computational Study of a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell-Turbofan Engine Hybrid Propulsion System Fueled by Ammonia and Hydrogen. Presented at AIAA SCITECH 2025 Forum, Orlando, Florida

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (published)
• Conference Name: AIAA SCITECH 2025 Forum
• Start Date: Jan 6, 2025
• End Date: Jan 10, 2025
• Acceptance Date: Aug 26, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Jan 3, 2025
• Publication Date: Jan 6, 2025
• Deposit Date: Feb 19, 2025
• Publisher: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2025-0327
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/4124986