EADS-Led EU Project Focusing on Two Novel Reforming Technologies to Produce Hydrogen from Kerosene for Aviation Applications

13 November 2009

EADS Deutschland GmbH is coordinating the recently-launched EU GreenAir project—an investigation of the production of hydrogen for aviation applications via efficient and low-emissions new technologies.

The three-year, €7.8 million (US$11.6 million) project launched in September.

Fuel cells for power generation and additional purposes aboard aircraft have a potential to contribute to making aircraft greener. GreenAir is addressing one of the key problems for fuel cell application aboard an aircraft—the generation of hydrogen from jet fuel (kerosene) which will be the aeronautic fuel for the next decades.

While mainstream fuel processors (e.g. autothermal reforming) have been intensely investigated already, GreenAir is focusing on two novel and unconventional methods to overcome some hurdles of mainstream reforming technologies:

• Microwave plasma assisted reforming (PAF), goal: development from TRL 3 to TRL 5.

• Partial Dehydrogenation fuel processing (PDh), goal: development from TRL 2 to TRL 4. The process would employ a catalyst that reacts under relatively low temperature and pressure conditions. Residual hydrocarbons would be used directly for combustion or returned to the kerosene tank.

• In addition, the project will investigate kerosene fractionation to extract fractions favorable for reforming to facilitate the PAF and the PDh processes.

The TRL (Technology Readiness Level) scale is a nine-level systematic metric/measurement system that supports assessments of the maturity of a particular technology and the consistent comparison of maturity between different types of technology starting with the concept (TRL 1) and ending with mature product (TRL 9).

GreenAir will elaborate the physical and chemical fundamentals of these new methods, and develop concepts for aircraft integration and safety. For both methods, the project will build breadboard fuel processor systems and test them for proof of concept under standard and simulated flight conditions.

GreenAir combines 13 beneficiaries from 7 European countries which are from aircraft and fuel cell related industry as well as institutes and SMEs excelling in fuel cell and catalysis R&D. It will establish links to the JTIs (CLEANSKY and Fuel Cells and Hydrogen) to maximize synergies.