Auxiliary power generation and cooling systems on liquid hydrogen fueled aircraft
AssigneeHamilton Sundstrand Corporation
InventorsViktor Kilchyk, Debabrata Pal
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Abstract
A hydrogen fueled power system of a vehicle includes a liquid hydrogen fuel source having a volume of liquid hydrogen fuel, and a thermal engine configured to expand the liquid hydrogen fuel into gaseous form via interaction between a heated first portion of the hydrogen fuel and a second portion of the hydrogen fuel. A heat exchanger is located between the liquid hydrogen source and the thermal engine. The heat exchanger is configured to heat the first portion of the hydrogen fuel via thermal energy exchange with a relatively warm fluid. A power generator is positioned fluidly downstream of the thermal engine. The power generator utilizes exhaust from the thermal engine to generate electrical or mechanical power.
Claims18
A hydrogen fueled power system of a vehicle, comprising:
- a liquid hydrogen fuel source having a volume of liquid hydrogen fuel;
- a thermal engine configured to expand the liquid hydrogen fuel into gaseous form via interaction between a heated first portion of the hydrogen fuel and a second portion of the hydrogen fuel;
- a heat exchanger disposed between the liquid hydrogen source and the thermal engine, the heat exchanger configured to heat the first portion of the hydrogen fuel via thermal energy exchange with a warmer fluid;
- and
- a power generator disposed fluidly downstream of the thermal engine, the power generator utilizing exhaust from the thermal engine to generate electrical or mechanical power;
- wherein the warmer fluid is lubricant circulated from the electrical generator.
A hydrogen fueled power system of a vehicle, comprising:
- a liquid hydrogen fuel source having a volume of liquid hydrogen fuel;
- a thermal engine configured to expand the liquid hydrogen fuel into gaseous form via interaction between a heated first portion of the hydrogen fuel and a second portion of the hydrogen fuel;
- a heat exchanger disposed between the liquid hydrogen source and the thermal engine, the heat exchanger configured to heat the first portion of the hydrogen fuel via thermal energy exchange with a warmer fluid;
- and
- a power generator disposed fluidly downstream of the thermal engine, the power generator utilizing exhaust from the thermal engine to generate electrical or mechanical power;
- wherein the heat exchanger operates as a distiller.
A method of operating a hydrogen fueled power system, comprising:
- flowing a first portion of hydrogen fuel from a liquid hydrogen fuel source to a heat exchanger;
- warming the first portion of hydrogen fuel via thermal energy exchange with a warmer fluid at the heat exchanger;
- directing the warmed first portion of hydrogen fuel through a thermal engine;
- injecting a second portion of hydrogen fuel, cooler than the first portion, into the thermal engine;
- exhausting gaseous hydrogen from the thermal engine via operation of the thermal engine;
- directing the exhaust gaseous hydrogen to a power generator disposed fluidly downstream of the thermal engine, the power generator utilizing the gaseous hydrogen to generate electrical or mechanical power;
- and
- circulating lubricant from the electrical generator through the heat exchanger to warm the first portion of hydrogen fuel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.