Patent attributes
Aircraft propulsion systems include aircraft systems having at least one hydrogen tank and an aircraft-systems heat exchanger and engine systems having at least a main engine core, a high pressure pump, a hydrogen-air heat exchanger, and a turbo expander. The main engine core includes a compressor section, a combustor section having a burner, and a turbine section. Hydrogen is supplied from the at least one hydrogen tank through a hydrogen flow path, passing through the aircraft-systems heat exchanger, the high pressure pump, the hydrogen-air heat exchanger, and the turbo expander, prior to being injected into the burner for combustion. The turbo expander includes a rotor separated into a first expander portion and a second expander portion arranged about an output shaft and the output shaft is operably connected to a generator configured to generate electrical power.