NOx emissions estimation methodology for air-breathing reusable access to space vehicle in conceptual design

Abstract

With an expected global revenue exceeding 1 trillion USD by 2040, the space industry is one of the world's fastest-growing sectors. Given the booming investment in the space industry and the anticipated space tourism era, it is crucial to assess the impact of already operative launch assets as well as to adopt design-to-sustainability strategies for the under-development and future launchers. This paper discloses an integrated methodology to estimate nitrogen oxides emissions of a hydrogen-fuelled air-breathing concept. The proposed strategy combines multi-fidelity propulsive system modelling with 0D chemical-kinetic air/hydrogen combustion numerical simulations to define a high-fidelity emissive database representative of various on-ground and in-flight operative conditions. The propulsive and emissive databases are then used to suggest an analytical formulation able to predict nitrogen oxides emission indices in any in-flight conditions, perfectly fitting the conceptual design needs. Throughout the paper, the Skylon spaceplane and its Synergetic Air Breathing Rocket Engine are used as case study. The methodology disclosed allows proving the high competitiveness of this air-breathing space launchers with respect to famous past and current competitors, as the Space Shuttle and the Falcon 9.