Advanced cryocooler system design for superconducting aircraft propulsion: Integrating air-cycle reverse Brayton refrigeration with cryogenic hydrogen cooling

IF 5.1 3区工程技术 Q2 ENERGY & FUELS

Thermal Science and Engineering Progress Pub Date : 2025-02-27 DOI:10.1016/j.tsep.2025.103451

Yat Huang Yau , Dengshuo Lai , Poo Balan Ganesan

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Direct cryogenic hydrogen cooling is the primary method employed for the Turboelectric Distributed Propulsion (TeDP) system in N3-X aircraft. To enhance this approach, a hybrid cryocooling system (HCS) is developed, which integrates an air-cycle cooling (ACC) subsystem for precooling and a cryogenic hydrogen cooling (CHC) subsystem for aftercooling. This innovative configuration aims to reduce the mass of cooling hydrogen, minimize redundancy, and provide more flexible cooling control. For this hybrid cooling system, this study proposes an analytical framework for system construction, optimization, and feasibility analysis, leveraging Engineering Equation Solver (EES) and Refprop software for detailed numerical analysis. Based on this framework, this study proposes a fundamental HCS, develops the cooling distribution for high-temperature superconducting components, analyzes HCS operational scenarios to accommodate various heat load conditions, and conducts predictive evaluations of refrigerant hydrogen demand and the total system mass. The HCS shows significant potential for the N3-X aircraft, offering a viable alternative to conventional cooling methods, while this analytical framework provides valuable guidance for future hybrid cooling system design.

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来源期刊

Thermal Science and Engineering Progress Chemical Engineering-Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes

CiteScore

7.20

自引率

10.40%

发文量

327

审稿时长

41 days

期刊介绍： Thermal Science and Engineering Progress (TSEP) publishes original, high-quality research articles that span activities ranging from fundamental scientific research and discussion of the more controversial thermodynamic theories, to developments in thermal engineering that are in many instances examples of the way scientists and engineers are addressing the challenges facing a growing population – smart cities and global warming – maximising thermodynamic efficiencies and minimising all heat losses. It is intended that these will be of current relevance and interest to industry, academia and other practitioners. It is evident that many specialised journals in thermal and, to some extent, in fluid disciplines tend to focus on topics that can be classified as fundamental in nature, or are ‘applied’ and near-market. Thermal Science and Engineering Progress will bridge the gap between these two areas, allowing authors to make an easy choice, should they or a journal editor feel that their papers are ‘out of scope’ when considering other journals. The range of topics covered by Thermal Science and Engineering Progress addresses the rapid rate of development being made in thermal transfer processes as they affect traditional fields, and important growth in the topical research areas of aerospace, thermal biological and medical systems, electronics and nano-technologies, renewable energy systems, food production (including agriculture), and the need to minimise man-made thermal impacts on climate change. Review articles on appropriate topics for TSEP are encouraged, although until TSEP is fully established, these will be limited in number. Before submitting such articles, please contact one of the Editors, or a member of the Editorial Advisory Board with an outline of your proposal and your expertise in the area of your review.