Design and Assessment of Long-Range Aircraft Concepts with Focus on Fossil Kerosene, Sustainable Aviation Fuel and Liquid Hydrogen as Energy Carriers

Abstract

Climate impact and sustainability represent the greatest challenge for aviation in the coming decades. While the application of hydrogen as an energy carrier is a promising and viable option for reducing climate impacts in various market segments, its utilization on long-haul flights is expected to be inferior in terms of efficiency according to previous studies. This paper will compare different energy carrier options for long-haul application, focusing on appropriate optimization of the aircraft and the aim of developing a viable design for hydrogen with comparative efficiency. Different design and trade studies are being conducted for fossil kerosene, sustainable aviation fuels and liquid hydrogen with results indicating that a comparable level of energy efficiency can be achieved.