Power unit

Abstract

A power unit for power generation in aerospace and other systems comprises a power generation device 101, such as a fuel cell, gas turbine or internal combustion engine, coupled to a liquid hydrogen reservoir 102 via a first conduit 105 and to an oxygen supply 108 via a second conduit 107. A heat exchanger 106 is provided between the two conduits, and a separator 109 is present in the second conduit for separation and removal of gas, especially gaseous nitrogen, from liquid oxygen. The heat exchanger exchanges heat between hydrogen flowing in the first conduit and oxygen flowing in the second conduit, which cools the oxygen while heating the hydrogen. The separator may be provided with a third conduit 110 for directing gas removed from the second conduit to be vented, or to an auxiliary unit, e.g. a fire prevention device when the gas is nitrogen, a cooling device for cooling an electric component such as an electric motor (301, figure 3) or a de-icing system.

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