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NASA NTRS · 20260001562

Center for High-Efficiency Electrical Technologies for Aircraft: Phase I Final Report

Phillip J Ansell·Kiruba Haran·Michael Sumption·Wolfgang Stautner·David Hall·Alan Mantooth·Edward Greitzer·Fang Luo·Kai James·Jason Merret·Timothy Haugan·Luigi Vanfretti·Mary Ann Sebastian·Michael Stoia
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Abstract

Under the University Leadership Initiative (ULI), the Center for High-Efficiency for Electrical Technologies (CHEETA) was established to develop and mature early-stage technologies pertaining to hydrogen-electric power and energy systems for aircraft. In particular, integration of these technologies on an aircraft system is envisioned to leverage the high specific energy content of liquid hydrogen (LH2) with fuel cell energy conversion and an electrically driven ducted fan system to provide an ultra-efficient propulsion drivetrain. For this concept, the LH2 system is not just used as an energy storage mechanism, but also as a cryogen to enable highly efficient superconducting electric systems. The end result of this concept is an integrated aircraft system with a quiet, efficient propulsion architecture that produces zero CO2, NOx, SOx, and particulate matter emissions at the vehicle level.

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HydrogenBoundary Layer IngestionDistributed PropulsionSuperconducting Electric MachineSuperconducting Power TransferFuel CellCryogenic Electrical SystemsAerodynamicsAircraft PropulsionHigh-LiftMDAOHydrogen TankTwo-phase Flow

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Phillip J Ansell, Kiruba Haran, Michael Sumption, Wolfgang Stautner, David Hall, Alan Mantooth, Edward Greitzer, Fang Luo, Kai James, Jason Merret, Timothy Haugan, Luigi Vanfretti, Mary Ann Sebastian, Michael Stoia. 2026-05-01. Center for High-Efficiency Electrical Technologies for Aircraft: Phase I Final Report. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20260001562

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Aerodynamics subjectAircraft Propulsion subjectBoundary Layer Ingestion subjectCryogenic Electrical Systems subjectDistributed Propulsion subjectFuel Cell subjectHigh-Lift subjectHydrogen subjectHydrogen Tank subjectMDAO subject

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