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Economic and environmental sustainability of liquid hydrogen fuel for hypersonic transportation systems

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Abstract

Based on recent research activities, the cost of the propellant may represent up to the 90% of the Direct Operating Cost for a hypersonic vehicle. Therefore, it can be considered the most relevant cost item of the overall Life Cycle Cost. In this context, the paper focuses on the estimation of the cost of liquid hydrogen, one of the most promising fuels for high-speed applications, considering its specific energy content. In particular, a methodology is here presented to guide engineers through the evaluation of the impact of the LH2 price on Direct Operating Cost and then onto the overall Life Cycle Cost for a long-haul point-to-point transportation system. Starting from an overview of the current H2 productive scenarios, future possible technological improvements allowing an increment of the production rate and a reduction of the related socio-economic impact are described. Then, a detailed cost-estimation model is presented for the so-called “green” hydrogen. Eventually, the developed cost model is applied to the LAPCAT A2 and LAPCAT MR2.4 vehicles and mission concepts, demonstrating that in a future scenario (2050) the LH2 cost can be lowered down to 2 €/kg. With this fuel price, the share of fuel cost onto Direct Operating Cost can be reduced down to 70%.

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Abbreviations

CCUS:

Carbon capture utilization and storage

CAPEX:

Capital cost expenditures

CER:

Cost estimation relationship

CFRP:

Carbon fibre reinforced polymer

CH4 :

Methane

CMC:

Ceramic matrix composites

CO:

Carbon monoxide

CO2 :

Carbon dioxide

CPI:

Consumer price index

DOC:

Direct operating cost

ESA:

European space agency

ESFC:

Energy-specific fuel consumption

EU:

European Union

EEX:

Electricity expenditures

FY:

Fiscal year

GTOW:

Gross take-off weight

IEA:

International energy agency

H2O:

Water

IOC:

Indirect operating cost

LCC:

Life cycle cost

LCOH:

Levelized cost of hydrogen

LH2 :

Liquid hydrogen

LHV:

Lower heating value

PEM:

Proton exchange membrane

NOx :

Nitrogen oxides

OPEX:

Operational expenditures

RDTE:

Research, development, test and evaluation

REL:

Reaction engines limited

ROM:

Rough order of magnitude

SSTO:

Single stage to orbit

SOEC:

Solid oxide electrolysis cells

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129, Turin, Italy

    Roberta Fusaro, Valeria Vercella, Davide Ferretto & Nicole Viola

  2. European Space Agency, ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1, 2201, Noordwijk, Netherlands

    Johan Steelant

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  1. Roberta Fusaro
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  2. Valeria Vercella
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  3. Davide Ferretto
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  4. Nicole Viola
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  5. Johan Steelant
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Correspondence to Roberta Fusaro.

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Fusaro, R., Vercella, V., Ferretto, D. et al. Economic and environmental sustainability of liquid hydrogen fuel for hypersonic transportation systems. CEAS Space J 12, 441–462 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12567-020-00311-x

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