Title:
A Novel Aero-Engine Architecture for Taking Full Advantage of Hydrogen as the Fuel
Agreement Number:
1034368
Agreement Value:
$539,986.00
Agreement Date:
Sep 1, 2025 - Aug 31, 2028
Description:
The aviation industry is committed to decarbonisation. Among the options, hydrogen (H2) holds great promise for long-haul airliners. Within the H2 portfolio, H2 fuel cells may not meet the power-density requirements for longhaul applications in the near future, which leaves H2-fueled gas turbines as the one viable technical pathway. H2 as an aviation fuel is fundamentally different from kerosene-based jet fuels and brings great new potentials: it is stable at the elevated temperatures of engine hot-gas path components (combustor liners and turbine blades). In addition, H2 needs to be stored either as a cryogenic liquid or as a cryocompressed gas. The endothermic process of vaporizing or pre-warming H2 from its storage states can be perfectly matched with demanding cooling requirements of aero-engines. To take full advantage of the new fuel, this collaboration plans to develop a novel engine architecture where H2 is also used as engine coolant that eliminates the extra weight and energy requirements of vaporizers and/or
multiple heat exchangers for pre-conditioning the fuel. Meanwhile, the need for diverting compressor discharge air for cooling can be greatly reduced or fully eliminated, resulting in 10-15% engine efficiency improvements over kerosenefueled legacy engines. The end goal of this undertaking is to have a proof-ofconcept combustor demonstrator that pre-heats low-temperature H2, needs little or no additional cooling air, and can combust H2 cleanly and efficiently by taking advantages of new additive manufacturing capabilities in both high-temperature superalloys and ceramics.
Organization:
National Research Council Canada
Expected Results:
In the short term, anticipated outcomes will be strengthened collaborations across industry, academia, and government to support research excellence. In the medium term, anticipated outcomes will be the development of new and potentially disruptive technologies with collaborators. In the long term, find collaborative solutions to public policy challenges and create stronger innovation systems.
Location:
Ottawa, Ontario, CA K1N 6N5
Reference Number:
172-2025-2026-Q3-1034368
Report Type:
Grants and Contributions
Recipient Business Number:
119278877
Recipient's Legal Name:
University of Ottawa
Federal Riding Name:
Ottawa--Vanier--Gloucester
Federal Riding Number:
35081
Program:
Collaborative Science, Technology and Innovation Program – Ideation Fund
Program Purpose:
The Ideation Fund is intended to encourage, test and validate transformative research ideas generated by teams of NRC scientific personnel and external collaborators with complementary capabilities, acting as a demonstration phase for a continually-evolving suite of research and development (R&D) deliverables at the NRC. The fund supports exploratory research through two mechanisms: the New Beginnings Initiative and the Small Teams Initiative.