Hydrogen–electric–thermal coupling analysis and validation of superconducting turbo-electric hybrid propulsion system
The superconducting turbo-electric hybrid propulsion system (TEHPS) integrates superconducting technology and hydrogen energy technology, presenting a potential solution to achieve efficient and high-power propulsion. This study focuses on the design of a liquid hydrogen-cooled superconducting TEHPS...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0142061525001024 |
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| author | Mingliang Bai Wenjiang Yang Ruopu Zhang Zibing Qu Juzhuang Yan |
| author_facet | Mingliang Bai Wenjiang Yang Ruopu Zhang Zibing Qu Juzhuang Yan |
| author_sort | Mingliang Bai |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The superconducting turbo-electric hybrid propulsion system (TEHPS) integrates superconducting technology and hydrogen energy technology, presenting a potential solution to achieve efficient and high-power propulsion. This study focuses on the design of a liquid hydrogen-cooled superconducting TEHPS, incorporating detailed models for key components, including the hydrogen turbine engine, fuel cell, and superconducting machines. A comprehensive hydrogen–electric–thermal (HET) analysis framework is introduced to optimize system fuel and temperature performance, with feasibility and effectiveness evaluated under conservative, baseline, and optimistic 2035 scenarios. Simulation results for typical mission profiles demonstrate that a hybrid propulsion scheme, combining the engine and fuel cell during takeoff, climb, and cruise phases, and utilizing either the engine or fuel cell alone during the descent phase, can effectively balance fuel and coolant demands, leading to a fuel consumption reduction of up to 22.3% in the optimistic scenario. Improvements in component parameters can significantly reduce the powertrain mass, increase power-to-weight ratio and enhance energy conversion efficiency. Under the optimistic scenario, the system achieves a peak power density of 2.15 kW/kg and an energy conversion efficiency of 75%. Furthermore, a scaled ground testbed for the superconducting TEHPS validated the feasibility of cryogenic cooling, superconducting generators, and hybrid-electric distributed propulsion technologies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-99205e5e96254a5cbcbd6125a3f3f855 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 0142-0615 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems |
| spelling | doaj-art-99205e5e96254a5cbcbd6125a3f3f8552025-08-20T03:09:03ZengElsevierInternational Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems0142-06152025-06-0116711055110.1016/j.ijepes.2025.110551Hydrogen–electric–thermal coupling analysis and validation of superconducting turbo-electric hybrid propulsion systemMingliang Bai0Wenjiang Yang1Ruopu Zhang2Zibing Qu3Juzhuang Yan4School of Astronautics, Beihang University, XueYuan Road No. 37, HaiDian District, Beijing, 100191, ChinaSchool of Astronautics, Beihang University, XueYuan Road No. 37, HaiDian District, Beijing, 100191, China; Aircraft and Propulsion Laboratory, Ningbo Institute of Technology, Beihang University, Ningbo, 315100, China; Corresponding author.School of Astronautics, Beihang University, XueYuan Road No. 37, HaiDian District, Beijing, 100191, ChinaSchool of Astronautics, Beihang University, XueYuan Road No. 37, HaiDian District, Beijing, 100191, ChinaSchool of Astronautics, Beihang University, XueYuan Road No. 37, HaiDian District, Beijing, 100191, ChinaThe superconducting turbo-electric hybrid propulsion system (TEHPS) integrates superconducting technology and hydrogen energy technology, presenting a potential solution to achieve efficient and high-power propulsion. This study focuses on the design of a liquid hydrogen-cooled superconducting TEHPS, incorporating detailed models for key components, including the hydrogen turbine engine, fuel cell, and superconducting machines. A comprehensive hydrogen–electric–thermal (HET) analysis framework is introduced to optimize system fuel and temperature performance, with feasibility and effectiveness evaluated under conservative, baseline, and optimistic 2035 scenarios. Simulation results for typical mission profiles demonstrate that a hybrid propulsion scheme, combining the engine and fuel cell during takeoff, climb, and cruise phases, and utilizing either the engine or fuel cell alone during the descent phase, can effectively balance fuel and coolant demands, leading to a fuel consumption reduction of up to 22.3% in the optimistic scenario. Improvements in component parameters can significantly reduce the powertrain mass, increase power-to-weight ratio and enhance energy conversion efficiency. Under the optimistic scenario, the system achieves a peak power density of 2.15 kW/kg and an energy conversion efficiency of 75%. Furthermore, a scaled ground testbed for the superconducting TEHPS validated the feasibility of cryogenic cooling, superconducting generators, and hybrid-electric distributed propulsion technologies.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0142061525001024Superconducting machinesExperimental validationHybrid electric propulsion systemHydrogen fuel cellHydrogen-powered aircraftLiquid hydrogen cooling |
| spellingShingle | Mingliang Bai Wenjiang Yang Ruopu Zhang Zibing Qu Juzhuang Yan Hydrogen–electric–thermal coupling analysis and validation of superconducting turbo-electric hybrid propulsion system International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems Superconducting machines Experimental validation Hybrid electric propulsion system Hydrogen fuel cell Hydrogen-powered aircraft Liquid hydrogen cooling |
| title | Hydrogen–electric–thermal coupling analysis and validation of superconducting turbo-electric hybrid propulsion system |
| title_full | Hydrogen–electric–thermal coupling analysis and validation of superconducting turbo-electric hybrid propulsion system |
| title_fullStr | Hydrogen–electric–thermal coupling analysis and validation of superconducting turbo-electric hybrid propulsion system |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hydrogen–electric–thermal coupling analysis and validation of superconducting turbo-electric hybrid propulsion system |
| title_short | Hydrogen–electric–thermal coupling analysis and validation of superconducting turbo-electric hybrid propulsion system |
| title_sort | hydrogen electric thermal coupling analysis and validation of superconducting turbo electric hybrid propulsion system |
| topic | Superconducting machines Experimental validation Hybrid electric propulsion system Hydrogen fuel cell Hydrogen-powered aircraft Liquid hydrogen cooling |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0142061525001024 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mingliangbai hydrogenelectricthermalcouplinganalysisandvalidationofsuperconductingturboelectrichybridpropulsionsystem AT wenjiangyang hydrogenelectricthermalcouplinganalysisandvalidationofsuperconductingturboelectrichybridpropulsionsystem AT ruopuzhang hydrogenelectricthermalcouplinganalysisandvalidationofsuperconductingturboelectrichybridpropulsionsystem AT zibingqu hydrogenelectricthermalcouplinganalysisandvalidationofsuperconductingturboelectrichybridpropulsionsystem AT juzhuangyan hydrogenelectricthermalcouplinganalysisandvalidationofsuperconductingturboelectrichybridpropulsionsystem |