AMC's Hydrogen Future: Sustainable Air Mobility
Abstract
The purpose of this research is to compare the costs associated with the transition to hydrogen aircraft for Air Mobility Command (AMC) to the costs of continuing using JP-8. Using current technology, air mobility aircraft can be designed to use liquid hydrogen instead of JP-8. This transformation will be capital intensive. A model was built that converted current AMC JP-8 usage to liquid hydrogen usage and calculated the costs of the infrastructure for that transition. The model focused on hydrogen production through renewable energy. The model covered the costs and requirements for electricity generation, hydrogen production, hydrogen liquefaction and liquid hydrogen storage. The analysis of hydrogen as a fuel for AMC aircraft covered the history of hydrogen aircraft, previous hydrogen aircraft studies, a comparison of hydrogen to JP-8 and liquid hydrogen to thrust conversion. The three areas of focus for liquid hydrogen to thrust conversion include hydrogen turbojets, hydrogen turbines powering High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) motors and fuel cell powered HTS motors. The results of the research suggest a transition to hydrogen infrastructure is an economically sound decision if the forecast price of oil is expected to exceed $7.50 a gallon within the next 20 years.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA505106
Entities
People
- Adam D. Reiman
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology