ZeroAvia has identified applications for hydrogen-electric, zero-emission propulsion for regional jet aircraft.
A technical study has identified an initial entry point for a CRJ 700 retrofit with ZeroAvia’s ZA 2000RJ powertrain confirming maximum take-off weight, centre of gravity and structural allowances. The study also confirms the retrofit approach for other in-service CRJ series aircraft, such as the CRJ 550 and 900. This study is part of the initial technical study conducted over the last year alongside Type Certificate holder MHIRJ.
Val Miftakhov, CEO, ZeroAvia, said: “At this early stage in our work together, to already see a viable pathway to clean propulsion with CRJ aircraft should be absolutely thrilling to everybody who wants us to keep flying”, and claimed that “airlines could be flying zero-emission jets” before the end of the decade.
The hydrogen-electric CRJ aircraft would be equipped with two ZeroAvia regional jet engines – derivatives of the ZA2000 engine class – to match the current performance, and ZeroAvia analysis suggests statistics of up to 60 passengers with a range of up to 560 nautical miles. There are currently more than 1,400 CRJ Series aircraft that could potentially be converted to fly with the ZA2000 engine.
The technical assessment determined that an increased fan diameter could overcome the loss of turbine core thrust within the constraints of the original airframe, and that further efficiency gains were possible by utilising novel propulsor technologies such as open rotor designs or a geared, ducted electric fan.
Opportunities for both powertrain integration and onboard hydrogen fuel storage were also identified. The intentions of the system are to reduce operating costs by use of hydrogen fuel and reduce maintenance costs by matching or increasing passenger volumes by increasing the number of flights on existing routes.
Assumptions based on the phase 1 study included HTPEM fuel cell system specific power of 2.4kW/kg, though ZeroAvia has previously demonstrated 2.5kW/kg at the cell level of its HTPEM stacks. “Such an achievement would boost the operating characteristics of the envisaged hydrogen-electric CRJ” says the release.
The prototype ZA2000 hydrogen-electric system for 40-80 seat regional turboprop aircraft is to be tested aboard a 76-seat Dash 8-400, with a target to certify the technology for use in 2027 at the earliest.