easyJet and Rolls-Royce have kicked off a series of “ground-breaking” hydrogen research tests as they look to place themselves at the forefront of the development of hydrogen combustion engine technology.
As the pair look to develop technology capable of powering a range of aircraft from the mid-2030s and beyond, they have commenced a set of tests that will strive to prove aerospace cryogenic liquid hydrogen pump systems. Underway at Rolls-Royce’s Solihull facility, the tests will help address what is a key engineering challenge of taking low-pressure liquid hydrogen, which is chilled below -250 °C, and pressurising it so it can then be pumped into and combusted by an engine.
Fuel combustion, fuel delivery and fuel systems integration with an engine are the three main challenges identified by Rolls-Royce that must be solved to ensure hydrogen can be used in aviation. The pair have already been able to prove that the fuel can be combusted and will now aim to explore the fuel delivery element.
