Rolls-Royce has announced a new world industry first at its hydrogen research project – a huge step toward enabling hydrogen as an aviation fuel.
Working in collaboration with Loughborough’s National Centre for Combustion and Aerothermal Technology and the German Aerospace Centre Deutsches Zentrum für Luft-und Raumfahrt, Rolls-Royce has proven a critical engine technology at its hydrogen research project.
The world industry first marks a significant step in the journey towards achieving net zero aviation.
The achievement involved overcoming significant engineering challenges
Tests on a full annular combustor of a Pearl 700 engine running on 100% hydrogen have demonstrated that the fuel can be combusted at conditions that represent maximum take-off thrust.
Vital to the achievement has been the design of advanced fuel spray nozzles to control the combustion process. This involved overcoming engineering challenges as hydrogen burns hotter and more rapidly than kerosene.
The new nozzles could control the flame position using a new system that mixes air with hydrogen to manage the fuel’s reactivity.
The company confirmed at its hydrogen research project that combustor operability and emissions were in line with expectations.
The nozzles were tested at intermediate pressure at Loughborough’s NCCAT test facilities and at DLR Cologne. The final full-pressure combustor tests took place at DLR Cologne.
The combustion element of hydrogen is now well-understood
Last year, easyJet and Rolls-Royce achieved another world first by successfully running an AE2100 on green hydrogen in Boscombe Down, UK.
These recent tests mean that the combustion element of the hydrogen programme is well understood.
At Rolls-Royce’s hydrogen research project, work will continue on the systems to deliver the fuel to the engine and to integrate those systems with an engine.
Comments on the hydrogen research project’s key achievement
Grazia Vittadini, Chief Technology Rolls-Royce, said: “This is an incredible achievement in a short space of time. Controlling the combustion process is one of the key technology challenges the industry faces in making hydrogen a real aviation fuel of the future. We have achieved that, and it makes us eager to keep moving forward. I want to thank easyJet, Loughborough University, and DLR for their dedication and support to reach this milestone.”
Johan Lundgren, CEO of easyJet, said: “We believe hydrogen is the future of short-haul aviation and the success of this test and progress being made demonstrates that this is becoming ever closer. We remain optimistic that it will play a critical role in helping us achieve the ambitious goals we set out in our net zero roadmap.”
Professor Dan Parsons, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at Loughborough University, said: “In conjunction with its partners, Loughborough’s National Centre for Combustion and Aerothermal Technology is delighted to have supported the landmark testing and development of advanced aerospace fuel spray nozzles utilising hydrogen fuel. This is a major advance towards net zero aviation.”
Next steps for the research
The technologies tested will now be incorporated into the learning from the Boscombe Down tests as Rolls-Royce and easyJet prepare for the next stage of testing. This will be a full gas hydrogen ground test on a Pearl engine.
This will lead to a full ground test on a Pearl engine using liquid hydrogen. Both easyJet and Rolls-Royce have shared the ambition to take the technology to flight.
easyJet has provided investment to support the development of hydrogen combustion engine technology for narrow-body aircraft.
