Large-scale LH2 Pipeline Infrastructure Concept for Airports

Infrastructure and processes for handling liquid hydrogen (LH2) is needed to decarbonize aviation with hydrogen aircraft. Large airports benefit from pipeline refuelling systems, which must be operated to keep the fuel subcooled due to LH2 vaporization challenges. In this paper, we estimate LH2 demand for aircraft and the gaseous H2 demand for ground support equipment (GSE) at Schipol in 2050. Modelling and simulation of aircraft refuelling via pipelines show that continuous LH2 recycling is required to maintain subcooling. Vaporization of LH2 during refuelling is heavily influenced by pipeline temperatures. Refuelling aircraft in the morning causes the highest vaporization (2.2 %) due to a long period with low LH2 flow (no refuelling at night). The vaporization decreases to 0 % throughout the day. Furthermore, increasing the recycle rate during night lowers the pipeline temperatures, reducing the vaporization to 1.7 %. The amount of vaporized hydrogen corresponds well with the GSE demand for gaseous H2.