Liquid Hydrogen Refueler for Hydrogen-Electric Aircraft Applications
ZeroAvia
Recipient
Hollister, CA
Recipient Location
$642,642
Amount Spent
Active
Project Status
Project Update
The project team has completed a hazard and operability (HAZOP) study for the Liquid Hydrogen Mobile Storage and Dispensing (LHMSD) system. The process and instrumentation diagram has been locked for further evaluation by third-party integrators after incorporating the results of the HAZOP study. The latter is still being incorporated into ongoing development of standard operating procedures. The next step is a front-end engineering design which will enable the locking of a final design to undergo engineering, procurement, and construction. The team has also finalized a ground testing site for the system located at the Stockton Metropolitan Airport. After the system is fully built and passes factory/site acceptance tests, it will be commissioned and tested as per the design of experiments.
The Issue
The project team has completed a hazard and operability (HAZOP) study for the Liquid Hydrogen Mobile Storage and Dispensing (LHMSD) system. The process and instrumentation diagram has been locked for further evaluation by third-party integrators after incorporating the results of the HAZOP study. The latter is still being incorporated into ongoing development of standard operating procedures. The next step is a front-end engineering design which will enable the locking of a final design to undergo engineering, procurement, and construction. The team has also finalized a ground testing site for the system located at the Stockton Metropolitan Airport. After the system is fully built and passes factory/site acceptance tests, it will be commissioned and tested as per the design of experiments.
Project Innovation
LH2 has the gravimetric energy density required to fuel zero-emission flight, however handling -423ºF liquid in the first-ever civilian aviation ground support application requires the full system and several of its components to be pulled forward through several TRL levels. The full system integration into a vehicle that meets highest safety and airside certification standards has never been done before. Subsystems such as state-of-the-art insulated LH2 tanks will be integrated with zero boil-off technologies. LH2 pumps will be able to achieve high flow rates and therefore low fill times for large-capacity aircraft tanks. Finally, system safety for practical ground operations must be paramount and therefore highly automated (control system & HMI panels) as well as fail-safe. On-board power (fuel cell or battery) will be used to achieve an integrated product that can accomplish fills without connecting with shore power.
Project Goals
Project Benefits
By unlocking hydrogen aviation in California, ZeroAvia projects a pull-through in terms of hydrogen demand ramping to 66 tons per day by 2032 across the State of California from just 10 regional airports. This firm demand will help lower the cost of hydrogen and reduce emissions in the communities surrounding the airports. In the future, the LHMSD could also help decarbonize ports and other locations where LH2 fuel is in demand.
Consumer Appeal
By unlocking hydrogen aviation in California, ZeroAvia projects a pull-through in terms of hydrogen demand ramping to 66 tons per day by 2032 across the State of California from just 10 regional airports. This firm demand will help lower the cost of hydrogen and reduce emissions in the communities surrounding the airports. In the future, the LHMSD could also help decarbonize ports and other locations where LH2 fuel is in demand.
Environmental Sustainability
The LHMSD offers a zero-boiloff storage system (highly integrated insulation system in addition to cryocooler), a fast flow rate umbilical used for filling vehicles, and a safe, automated control system to unlock the use of LH2 to reduce emissions from difficult-to-electrify transportation end-uses.
Affordability
By unlocking hydrogen aviation in California, ZeroAvia projects a pull-through in terms of hydrogen demand ramping to 66 tons per day by 2032 across the State of California from just 10 regional airports. This firm demand will help lower the cost of hydrogen and reduce emissions in the communities surrounding the airports. In the future, the LHMSD could also help decarbonize ports and other locations where LH2 fuel is in demand.
Economic Development
By enabling zero-boiloff/zero-wastage solutions for liquid hydrogen storage and dispensing infrastructure, this technology can make such infrastructure more accessible for all hydrogen offtakers, thereby facilitating economic development for the State of California. This technology also enables a more economic mode of operation for infrastructure by preserving hydrogen molecules that represent significant energy investment.
Reliability
By increasing hydrogen retention rate in storage/dispensing infrastructure across the board, this technology can increase the reliability in hydrogen supply chains.
Safety
Vented boiloff gas is a dense, cold hydrogen stream that settles down for a period of time before it warms up and rises, representing a critical safety issue for aircraft LH2 fill operations on the tarmac. By minimizing hydrogen boiloff during refueling or during normal storage, this technology makes the refueling process significantly safer.
Key Project Members
Gurjap Singh
Mahmood Alqefl
Parker Bryant
Subrecipients
Match Partners
