Tank and Fuel Systems Considerations for Hydrogen Fueled Aircraft

Commercial transport aircraft must be capable of operating worldwide; accordingly, a fuel of uniform and high quality must be available worldwide. Hydrogen is proposed as fuel for advanced design transport aircraft in the era subsequent to 1990 because of the problems of availability and cost forecast for conventional jet fuel derived from petroleum. The result of design studies to evaluate the feasibility, practicability, and potential advantages/disadvantages of using hydrogen as fuel in both subsonic and supersonic transport aircraft are summarized. The design requirements and characteristics of aircraft tank and fuel systems to satisfactorily contain and control liquid hydrogen fuel are described.