The path towards efficient hydrogen utilization in aircraft engines is being propelled by an exciting partnership between GE Aerospace and the Technical University of Munich (TUM). The focus lies on researching and developing advanced premixed combustion processes tailored specifically for hydrogen. This groundbreaking collaboration centers around two main areas:
1. Investigation of Injection and Combustion Processes: GE Aerospace brings its expertise to the table in developing and providing innovative injection and combustion processes, while TUM takes charge of experimental validation. The goal is to understand the stationary and transient behavior of these processes, including mixture formation, heat distribution, ignition, and thermo-acoustic stability. Special attention is placed on minimizing NOx emissions, which offers significant environmental benefits.
2. Development of an Axially Staged System: A revolutionary axially staged system is being developed at TUM to transfer hydrogen combustion technology to aircraft engines. Compared to non-staged systems, this concept offers substantial potential for emission reduction. By optimizing the stages for different operating points, the requirements in various flight conditions can be effectively met. The system is initially simulated and then experimentally validated, with a focus on emission measurements.
This pioneering collaboration between GE Aviation and TUM promises to open up new horizons for more environmentally friendly and efficient aircraft engines through the utilization of hydrogen.