Thermodynamic and exergetic analysis of hydrogen-fueled intercooled-recuperated turbofan engine integrated with closed Brayton cycle

The aviation sector accounts for over 2.5% of global anthropogenic carbon emissions, alongside other climate-warming pollutants. To reduce dependence on fossil fuels, hydrogen has emerged as a promising alternative for aviation decarbonization. In response to the associated thermal management challenges, this study proposes a hybrid architecture integrating a hydrogen-fueled intercooled-recuperated turbofan (HIRTF) with a helium closed Brayton cycle (He-CBC). Using helium as an intermediate working fluid enables the synergistic utilization of liquid-hydrogen cryogenic exergy and exhaust waste heat, while mitigating frosting risks associated with direct heat exchange. Thermodynamic and exergetic analyses of two configurations show that the HIRTF architecture increases exergetic efficiency from 32.33% to over 35% and thermal efficiency to above 46%, achieving approximately 8% fuel savings under high-altitude cruise conditions. Case 1 generates more than 2.5 times the electrical power of Case 2 and achieves a lower power-specific mass penalty, with the specific mass penalty below 11.5 kg/kW. In contrast, Case 2 exhibits lower specific fuel consumption and slightly higher overall efficiency. This research provides a theoretical framework for coordinated aero-propulsion and onboard power generation, showing thermodynamic potential for future MEA/AEA applications.