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Ammonia as aviation fuel

Stores 1.7 times more H₂ than liquid hydrogen

Easy to liquefy at -33 °C

No CO₂ emissions

No condensation trails when using electric propulsion

Less noise pollution, quiet flying thanks to electric motors

No heavy weight with VABECK® ammonia cracker

We solve the weight problem of battery-powered aircrafts

ARE THERE REAL WAYS TO DECARBONIZE AVIATION?

Current suggestions
 Challenges, problems

  • Development and promotion of synthetic aviation fuels

  • Very expensive, currently costs five times more than fossil fuels
  • Non-CO2 effects remain (nitrogen oxides, contrails)

  • Improving the energy efficiency of aircraft engines

  • Only a very small effect
  • Launch of electric drives
  • It would be a radical solution, but of little use due to the very heavy batteries

  • Carbon tax
  • No actual CO2 reduction

  • Development of hydrogen airplanes
  • Currently no working hydrogen technology for air transport
  • Non-CO2 effects will continue to exist when hydrogen is burned

  • Limiting passenger demand
  • Not realistic


AMMONIA POWERED AIRCRAFT




Our solution:


‌Vabeck® Ammonia cracker + fuel cell + electric engine =

eco-friendly airplane

Electric short-haul aircraft

  • Electric engine with ammonia fuel, very quiet
  • Flight range >10 times higher than electric aircraft with batteries,  e.g.:
    • Lilium Jet: 175 km (3175 kg take-off weight, 6 seats, electric)
    • Comparable aircraft TBM 960: 3200 km (3454 kg take-off weight, up to 10 seats, fuel: kerosene)
    • Ammonia-powered aircraft with take-off weight similar to the  TBM 960: >1600 km range*
  • Significantly cheaper flying per passenger per kilometer than  electric with batteries
  • Particularly economical thanks to the long range

* Liquid ammonia has about half of the energy density of kerosine (0,5 * 3200 km = 1600 km). Taking the efficiency of the kerosine turbine (30-35%) and fuel cells (60-70%) into account, the range improves and thus ammonia’s capabilities as a fuel approaches that of kerosine.

Electric long-haul aircraft with ammonia

  • Liquid ammonia can be stored in the wings in a similar way to kerosene, no major modifications to the aircraft are necessary
  • At the operating altitude of the passenger aircraft (10 km) the temperatures are very low at around -50 °C, meaning ammonia can remain liquid in the tank without any additional measures
  • No condensation trails or nitrogen oxides are formed - much  more environmentally friendly than kerosene or synthetic fuels
  • Less aircraft noise, more comfort
  • Electric long-haul aircrafts with batteries are not possible due to excessive battery weight