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Generation of Hydrogen by Kerosene Reforming via Efficient and Low Emission new Alternative, Innovative, Refined Technologies for Aircraft Application

PROJECTS
Funding
European
European Union
Duration
-
Status
Complete with results
Geo-spatial type
Other
Total project cost
€7 709 731
EU Contribution
€5 057 658
Project website
Project Acronym
GREENAIR
STRIA Roadmaps
Transport electrification (ELT)
Vehicle design and manufacturing (VDM)
Low-emission alternative energy for transport (ALT)
Transport mode
Airborne icon
Transport policies
Environmental/Emissions aspects
Transport sectors
Passenger transport,
Freight transport

Overview

Call for proposal
FP7-AAT-2008-RTD-1
Link to CORDIS
Background & Policy context

Fuel cells for power generation and additional purposes aboard aircraft have a promising potential to contribute to making aircraft greener and thus to 'greening of air transport' which is a superior goal of European policy of climate change. GREENAIR is addressing one of the key problems for fuel cell application aboard an aircraft - the generation of Hydrogen from Jet fuel (Kerosene) which will be the aeronautic fuel for the next decades also.

Objectives

Support the development of more electric aircraft:

  • replacement of hydraulic and pneumatic actuators with electric actuators;
  • better management of energy use;
  • decrease of operation costs (maintenance).

with alternative approaches to on-board energy generation. The use of H2 powered fuel cells with high energy efficiency through on-board H2 generation from kerosene.

Methodology

While mainstream fuel processors (e.g. autothermal reforming) have been intensely investigated already, GREENAIR focussed on two novel and unconventional methods to overcome some hurdles of mainstream reforming technologies:

  • Microwave Plasma Assisted Reforming (PAF), goal: development from TRL3 to TRL5;
  • Partial Dehydrogenation fuel processing (PDh), goal: development from TRL2 to TRL4;
  • Kerosene Fractionation will be investigated in addition. It shall extract fractions out of Kerosene favourable for reforming to facilitate the PAF and the PDh processes.

The physical and chemical fundamentals of these methods were elaborated. Furthermore, aircraft integration and safety concepts were elaborated. For both methods, breadboard fuel processor systems were built and tested for proof of concepts under standard and simulated flight conditions. Widespread dissemination via a website, publications and conference contributions and a special Forum will be ensured. Training and education of young scientists is foreseen.

GREENAIR combines 13 beneficiaries from 7 European countries which are from aircraft and fuel cell related industry as well as institutes and SME's excelling in fuel cell and catalysis R&D. It established links to the JTIs ( CLEANSKY and Fuel Cells and Hydrogen ) to maximise synergies. The consortium of this project is well balanced in terms of the mix (also geographically): two SME's, seven Academia and four industry partners.

Funding

Parent Programmes
Institution Type
Public institution
Institution Name
The European Commission
Type of funding
Public (EU)
Specific funding programme
FP7-TRANSPORT

Results

Physical and chemical fundamentals of partial dehydrogenation were studied using a surrogate model fluid, containing well known species to represent the different types (linear, cyclic) in kerosene enabling an interpretation of test results. Catalysts have been developed and activity has been proven on the surrogate, as well as on desulphurised kerosene. The project also looked at increasing the sulphur tolerance of the catalyst, avoidance of coke formation and at durability.

A 1 kW system has been designed on this base. Also a new design was developed for a microwave reformer block, enabling increase in the kerosene flow while operating at higher temperature so that the microwave energy waste could be reduced. The overall optimisation of the microwave system has been supported by both modelling and experimental testing. Further to this, a new subsystem was developed so as to enable heat recovery from the exhaust system.

A 5 kW system has been designed. Several fractionation concepts have been studied. A fractionation based on rectification showed interesting results in reducing the sulphur content.

Innovation aspects

Using fuel cells for power generation and additional purposes aboard aircraft.

Other results

The partial dehydrogenation ('PDH') of hydrocarbon blends may be a suitable way to produce H2 on-board of automotives or airplanes to feed fuel cells and produce electric power, thus avoiding storage problems. In this project data have been collected using Jet A1 surrogate and Pt–Sn/γ-Al2O3 catalysts, operating at 450 °C and feeding the vaporised hydrocarbon blend without any carrier gas. The use of Pt/Sn catalyst with 1:1 ratio leads to the best compromise between activity and stability with time-on-stream, due to the formation of Pt-rich alloys. Nevertheless, studied catalysts exhibited limited thio-tolerance. In optimized reaction conditions, a H2 productivity of 3000 NL/kgcat/h sufficient to produce 3 kW of electric power, considering purification steps and a fuel efficiency of 50%, was obtained.

Strategy targets

Innovating for the future (technology and behaviour):

  • A European Transport Research and Innovation Policy
  • Promoting more sustainable development

Partners

Lead Organisation
Organisation
Airbus Defence And Space Gmbh
Address
Ludwig-Boelkow-Allee 1, 85521 Ottobrunn, Germany
Organisation website
EU Contribution
€722 603
Partner Organisations
Organisation
Dr. Erich Erdle
Address
Auf dem Ruhbuehl 105, 88090 Immenstaad, Germany
EU Contribution
€285 389
Organisation
Instytut Niskich Temperatur I Badan Strukturalnych Im. Wlodzimierza Trzebiatowskiego Polskiej Akademii Nauk
Address
Ul Okolna 2, 50422 Wroclaw, Poland
Organisation website
EU Contribution
€170 200
Organisation
Compania Espanola De Sistemas Aeronauticos
Address
AVENIDA JOHN LENNON 4, 28906 MADRID (GETAFE), Spain
Organisation website
EU Contribution
€267 223
Organisation
Hyet Hydrogen BV
Address
Westervoortsedijk 71 K, 6827 Av Arnhem, Netherlands
Organisation website
EU Contribution
€407 450
Organisation
Qinetiq
Address
Cody Technology Park, Ively Rd,, FARNBOROUGH, GU14 0LX, United Kingdom
EU Contribution
€668 913
Organisation
Deutsches Zentrum Fr Luft Und Raumfahrt E.v
Address
Linder Hoehe, 51147 KOELN, Germany
Organisation website
EU Contribution
€465 197
Organisation
Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche
Address
Piazzale Aldo Moro, 185 Roma, Italy
Organisation website
EU Contribution
€599 461
Organisation
Instytut Maszyn Przeplywowych Im Roberta Szewalskiego Polskiej Akademii Nauk - Imp Pan
Address
Ul. Fiszera 14, 80N/A231 Gdansk, Poland
Organisation website
EU Contribution
€162 510
Organisation
Alma Mater Studiorum - Universita Di Bologna
Address
Via Zamboni 33, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Organisation website
EU Contribution
€312 867
Organisation
Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique
Address
3 rue Michel-Ange, 75794 PARIS, France
Organisation website
EU Contribution
€497 222
Organisation
Johnson Matthey Plc
Address
40-42 Hatton Garden, London, EC1N 8EE, United Kingdom
Organisation website
EU Contribution
€173 092
Organisation
European Commission - Joint Research Centre (Brussels)
Address
Rue de la Loi 200, 1049 BRUXELLES, Belgium
Organisation website
EU Contribution
€1 622 715
Organisation
European Commission - Joint Research Centre (Brussels)
Address
Rue de la Loi 200, 1049 BRUXELLES, Belgium
Organisation website
EU Contribution
€325 532

Technologies

Technology Theme
Aircraft design and manufacturing
Technology
Electro-Mechanical Actuators (EMAs)
Development phase
Research/Invention

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