Energy, exergy, exergoeconomic, exergy sustainability and exergoenvironmental analyses (5E) of a turbofan engine: A comparative study of hydrogen and kerosene fuels

Abstract

In this article, mathematical modelling of the GEnx-ib76 turbofan engine was made in the EES program. Also, energy, exergy, exergy sustainability, exergoenvironmental, exergoeconomic, and emission analyses were made depending on hydrogen and kerosene fuels at different altitudes. The aim of this study is to compare the thermodynamic performance results of a turbofan engine fed with hydrogen and kerosene under the same conditions. While the maximum energy efficiency of the turbofan engine fed with kerosene fuel was 51.68 % at take-off altitude, this value was calculated as 50.76 % when using hydrogen fuel. Besides, thrust efficiency and specific fuel consumption at take-off altitude were obtained as 38.71 % and 38.38 kg/kN.h for kerosene, and 38.02 % and 14.11 kg/kN.h for hydrogen, respectively. The lowest exergy efficiency of the turbofan engine was obtained in the combustion chamber (CC) with values of 76.31 % for kerosene and 75.2 % for hydrogen at cruise altitude. The highest exergy improvement potential was performed in the CC. The highest energetic and exergetic fuel cost rates were calculated as 27749.8 $/h and 20400.5 $/h for kerosene and hydrogen, respectively. The highest sustainable efficiency factor and exergy sustainability index of the turbofan engine and the high pressure turbine (HPT) component at the take-off altitude were obtained. Finally, while the highest carbon dioxide emission amount and cost of the kerosene-fueled turbofan engine were found as 43.84 tonCO2/h and 65.77 $/tonCO2.h at take-off altitude. However, it is seen that these values are eliminated when using hydrogen fuel.