All Three Concept Rely On Hydrogen As A Primary Power Source
European planmaker Airbus unveiled three concepts for the world's first zero-emission commerical aircraft which could enter service by 2035. All of these concepts rely on hydrogen as a primary power source. Hydrogen is becoming an increasing area of focus for Airbus as it evaluates technologies for emission-free flight.
"Hydrogen has a different volumetric energy density than jet fuel so we have to study other storage options and aircraft architectures than existing ones" Jean-Brice Dumont, Airbus EVP Engineering, said.
These concepts each represent a different approach to achieving zero-emission flight, exploring various technology pathways and aerodynamic configurations in order to support the company’s ambition of leading the way in the decarbonisation of the entire aviation industry.
“This is a historic moment for the commercial aviation sector as a whole and we intend to play a leading role in the most important transition this industry has ever seen. The concepts we unveil today offer the world a glimpse of our ambition to drive a bold vision for the future of zero-emission flight,” said Guillaume Faury, Airbus CEO.
The three concepts all codenamed “ZEROe” for a first climate neutral zero-emission commercial aircraft include:
- A turbofan design (120-200 passengers) with a range of 2,000+ nautical miles, capable of operating transcontinentally and powered by a modified gas-turbine engine running on hydrogen, rather than jet fuel, through combustion.
- A turboprop design (up to 100 passengers) using a turboprop engine instead of a turbofan and also powered by hydrogen combustion in modified gas-turbine engines, which would be capable of traveling more than 1,000 nautical miles, making it a perfect option for short-haul trips.
- A “blended-wing body” design (up to 200 passengers) concept in which the wings merge with the main body of the aircraft with a range similar to that of the turbofan concept.
So excited to have shared our #zeroe concept aircraft with you!
— Airbus (@Airbus) September 21, 2020
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But this is only the beginning. Stay tuned for more in the weeks to come!
Learn more on our website: https://t.co/rl1CcXfsiK#ZeDay #ZeroEmissionsDay pic.twitter.com/iAMkofvz9e
Source: Airbus
Image by Airbus