The American space agency, NASA, has chosen to fund the Hy2Pass project, which proposes an innovative approach to hybridisation using hydrogen for commercial passenger transport.

The Hy2Pass project is one of 15 winners of NASA’s NIAC (NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts) programme, which aims to support groundbreaking projects. Led by Philipp Ansell from the University of Illinois, this initiative doesn’t just focus on hybridisation itself, but on the unique way in which it has been developed.

This hybridisation is achieved through air treatment. The fuel cell powers an electric compressor that supplies oxygen to both the cell’s cathode and the gas turbine’s burner. The main advantage of this design is that it eliminates the need for a central compressor in the heat engine. Furthermore, by mechanically decoupling the compressor from the turbine, the two components can operate independently and at variable speeds.

In summary, the Hy2Pass system offers improved performance with less energy loss, while significantly reducing gas turbine emissions. Most importantly, it opens up new design possibilities. The goal of NASA’s NIAC programme is to demonstrate the viability of the Hy2Pass system, aligning with NASA’s vision for highly efficient aircraft.

Hydrogen Hybrid Power for Aviation Sustainable System

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