Fuel cell technology has a role to play in air transport, although it will not be powering airliners any time soon.
Henri Winand, chief executive of UK-based Intelligent Energy, says the success of its hydrogen fuel cell power system in a Boeing-led experimental light aircraft flight in March shows the potential for clean energy.
“This is a new dawn for clean aviation and the latest project to vindicate our view that hydrogen fuel cells can find applications in a wide variety of sectors,” he says. “Boeing’s challenge to us was to provide a reliable and compact power system that could be integrated into such a light aircraft, and we delivered on our promise.”
In March, a Dimona motor-glider modified by Boeing Research and Technology Europe (BR&TE) flew on fuel cell power for 20min at Boeing’s test site in Spain. The aircraft incorporated a hybrid low emission engine, containing Intelligent Energy’s power-dense Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell power system and lithium-ion batteries.
Intelligent Energy is confident the hydrogen fuel cell system could run auxiliary power units (APUs), air conditioning and on-board electrics, leaving just propulsion to hydrocarbon-fuelled engines. Winand believes businesses need such a fresh approach to their changing energy needs.
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“Fuel cells can’t replace the jet engine in the near-to-medium term, but what they can do is reduce the burden of cost that airlines have placed on such an expensive commodity – oil,” he says. “The efficiencies that clean technology can provide have already started to look attractive.”
Hydrogen fuel cells produce electricity from hydrogen. They can be modified to provide power for applications including aerospace and defence, or anywhere requiring zero emissions.
Philip Mitchell, who led the Intelligent Energy team that developed the fuel cell system for the Boeing test aircraft, says technical expertise is growing with each successful implementation. “The possibilities for designing more efficient and versatile systems are limited only by the vision of our partners.”
Source: Flight International
