Thermal Management System Architecture for Hydrogen-Powered Propulsion Technologies: Practices, Thematic Clusters, System Architectures, Future Challenges, and Opportunities

Akshay Nag Srinath, Álvaro Pena López, Seyed Alireza Miran Fashandi, Sylvain Lechat, Giampiero di Legge, Seyed Ali Nabavi, Theoklis Nikolaidis and Soheil Jafari
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Akshay Nag Srinath: Centre of Propulsion Engineering, Cranfield University, Bedford MK43 0AL, UK
Álvaro Pena López: Centre of Propulsion Engineering, Cranfield University, Bedford MK43 0AL, UK
Seyed Alireza Miran Fashandi: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran 13114-16846, Iran
Sylvain Lechat: Centre of Propulsion Engineering, Cranfield University, Bedford MK43 0AL, UK
Giampiero di Legge: Centre for Climate and Environmental Protection, Cranfield University, Bedford MK43 0AL, UK
Seyed Ali Nabavi: Centre for Climate and Environmental Protection, Cranfield University, Bedford MK43 0AL, UK
Theoklis Nikolaidis: Centre of Propulsion Engineering, Cranfield University, Bedford MK43 0AL, UK
Soheil Jafari: Centre of Propulsion Engineering, Cranfield University, Bedford MK43 0AL, UK

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-45

Abstract: The thermal management system architectures proposed for hydrogen-powered propulsion technologies are critically reviewed and assessed. The objectives of this paper are to determine the system-level shortcomings and to recognise the remaining challenges and research questions that need to be sorted out in order to enable this disruptive technology to be utilised by propulsion system manufacturers. Initially, a scientometrics based co-word analysis is conducted to identify the milestones for the literature review as well as to illustrate the connections between relevant ideas by considering the patterns of co-occurrence of words. Then, a historical review of the proposed embodiments and concepts dating back to 1995 is followed. Next, feasible thermal management system architectures are classified into three distinct classes and its components are discussed. These architectures are further extended and adapted for the application of hydrogen-powered fuel cells in aviation. This climaxes with the assessment of the available evidence to verify the reasons why no hydrogen-powered propulsion thermal management system architecture has yet been approved for commercial production. Finally, the remaining research challenges are identified through a systematic examination of the critical areas in thermal management systems for application to hydrogen-powered air vehicles’ engine cooling. The proposed solutions are discussed from weight, cost, complexity, and impact points of view by a system-level assessment of the critical areas in the field.

Keywords: thermal management system; hydrogen-powered propulsion; fuel cells; scientometrics; co-word analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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