Feasibility Study on the Integration of a Carbon Capture Device into a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell-Based Propulsion System for Aviation

Kurzfassung

Due to the current and projected increasing demand for air transport, climate-neutrality of aviation until 2050 is a central goal of the European ‘Green Deal’, thus including reduction of carbon dioxide as well as non-carbon dioxide emissions. Using fuel cells, especially solid oxide fuel cells, for energy conversion within aviation propulsion systems is considered a promising solution to reduce carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions. In comparison to other fuel cells suitable for aviation, solid oxide fuel cells exhibit the advantage of a high fuel flexibility. Therefore, they can be operated with sustainable aviation fuel or natural gas instead of hydrogen. This is a significant advantage as the use of sustainable aviation fuel would necessitate fewer modifications and changes to the fuel infrastructure and the tank system of the aircraft. Nevertheless, a main disadvantage of using sustainable aviation fuel is the residual carbon dioxide emissions. Therefore, in this study, the possibility of integrating a carbon capture device into a reference propulsion system is being explored. The optimal location for integration of the capturing device is derived based on the increase of system complexity, the potential energy demand for the capturing process and the capture rate. Furthermore, the chemical reactions along the process chain are modelled, including fuel conversion in an autothermal reforming device, at the solid oxide fuel cell and in a downstream combustion chamber. Consequently, the mass flows of substances, especially sustainable aviation fuel and carbon dioxide, are being obtained based on a reference mission profile. Finally, an estimation of feasible carbon capture rates is conducted derived from the mass and volume of carbon dioxide produced throughout the mission.