A short overview of hydrogen storage for sustainable aviation

Abstract

The aviation industry is facing environmental challenges, prompting the need for aircraft technologies aligned with climate goals. Hydrogen has emerged as a clean fuel option, offering significant advantages in supply potential and sustainability. Reliable and safe storage technologies are crucial for integrating this fuel into aircraft design. This overview examines current storage technologies for hydrogen in aviation, emphasizing tank materials and structural aspects to enable sustainable fuel use. Requirements for integrating fuel systems into existing or new aircraft architectures are discussed, considering both gaseous and liquid hydrogen storage. Both high pressures and cryogenic storage conditions are explored. Materials for hydrogen tanks are reviewed, with a focus on improving efficiency and addressing issues like thermal insulation and hydrogen embrittlement.