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Completed TRL 4 (started at 4, targeting 4)
GTL’s breakthrough ultra-lightweight composite dewar-tank technology is game changing by providing hydrogen weight fractions in excess of 59% for small tanks, with over 70% achievable with medium scale LH2 tanks, including vacuum insulation. This capability addresses a critical need in the conversion of single-aisle aircraft from Jet-A to liquid hydrogen to eliminate carbon emissions. With GTL’s composite LH2 dewar-tanks, hydrogen powered aircraft can achieve better performance than Jet-A aircraft and operate with less cost per passenger mile. GTL is commercially developing and validating the composite LH2 dewar-tank. This commercial funded effort includes the fabrication and ground testing of multiple composite LH2 dewar-tanks that will culminate in prototype flight testing on a helicopter. In this SBIR, GTL will examine the integration of composite LH2 dewar-tanks into single-aisle aircraft. This includes showing how the composite LH2 dewar-tank technology can meet relevant performance, operational, and safety requirements of single-aisle aircraft. The effort will also create a technology roadmap of the development, verification and validation steps needed to mature the technology from its current state to the point where it can be adopted by aircraft developers.
GTL’s composite cryotanks can be used for Space Launch System upgrades, propellant depots, orbit transfer vehicles, lunar descent and ascent vehicles, reusable landers, nuclear rocket vehicles. They can also be used for terrestrial test tanks and pipelines. GTL’s composite LH2 dewar-tanks can be used for NASA airplanes. Composite dewar-cups can be used with LHe for balloon telescope missions.
GTL’s composite LH2 dewar-tanks can be used in helicopters, drones, air taxi, small regional airplanes, single-aisle airplane, wide-body airplane, river taxi, ships, medium duty/heavy duty trucks, buses, and tanker trucks, but also includes stationary assets such as pipelines, and supply depot dewars. GTL composite cryotanks can be used for launch vehicles and spacecraft.
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