Airbus has revealed that it is developing a hydrogen-powered fuel cell engine. The propulsion system is being considered as one of the potential solutions to equip its zero-emission aircraft that will enter service by 2035. It could eventually be employed in commercial aircraft that could carry up to 100 passengers around 1,000 nautical miles (1,150 miles), the company said.
Airbus will start ground and flight testing this fuel cell engine architecture onboard its ZEROe demonstrator aircraft towards the middle of the decade. The A380 MSN1 flight test aircraft for new hydrogen technologies is currently being modified to carry liquid hydrogen tanks and their associated distribution systems.
"Fuel cells are a potential solution to help us achieve our zero-emission ambition and we are focused on developing and testing this technology to understand if it is feasible and viable for a 2035 entry-into-service of a zero-emission aircraft," said Airbus VP for zero-emission aircraft, Glenn Llewellyn.
The company did not release any more information, but fuel-cells are a pretty popular technology for cars. They're not as efficient as battery electric vehicles (BEVs) when taking into account the production of fuel and its conversion to electricity. However, they can travel much further without needing refueling, and they're lighter - which is key for aircrafts.
There are two ways hydrogen can be used as a power source for aircraft propulsion. First via hydrogen combustion in a gas turbine, second, by using fuel cells to convert hydrogen into electricity in order to power a propeller engine. A hydrogen gas turbine can also be coupled with fuel cells instead of batteries in a hybrid-electric architecture.
A hydrogen fuel cell is a device that uses stored chemical energy to create electricity. It works by combining hydrogen and oxygen in an electrochemical reaction, which produces electricity, water, and heat. The hydrogen is stored in a fuel tank and the oxygen is typically taken from the air around us. The electricity is then used to power the vehicle's electric motor, while the water and heat can be harnessed as well. The only byproduct of this reaction is water vapor.
Airbus has been exploring the possibilities of fuel cell propulsion systems for aviation for some time. In October 2020, Airbus created Aerostack, a joint venture with ElringKlinger, a company with over 20 years of experience as both a fuel cell systems and component supplier. In December 2020, Airbus presented its pod-concept which included six removable fuel cell propeller propulsion systems.
Source: Airbus
