Hydrogen Propulsion Systems for Aircraft, a Review on Recent Advances and Ongoing Challenges

Air transportation contributes significantly to harmful and greenhouse gas emissions. To combat these issues, there has been a recent emergence of aircraft electrification as a potential solution to mitigate environmental concerns and address fuel shortages. However, current technologies related to batteries, electric machinery, and power systems are still in the developmental phase to meet the requirements for power and energy density, weight, safety, and reliability. In the interim, there is a focus on the more electric and hybrid electric propulsion systems for aircraft. Hydrogen, with its high specific energy and carbon-free characteristics, stands out as a promising alternative fuel for aviation. This paper is centred on the application of hydrogen in aircraft propulsion, mainly fuel cell hybrid electric (FCHE) propulsion systems. Furthermore, application of hydrogen as a fuel for the aircraft propulsion systems is considered. A comprehensive overview of the hydrogen propulsion systems in aviation is presented with an emphasis on the technical aspects crucial for creating a more sustainable and efficient air transportation sector. Additionally, the paper acknowledges the technical and regulatory challenges that must be addressed to attain these goals.