Airbus expanding fuel cell R&D with autonomous taxiing demonstrator, partnership with Parker Aerospace
06 July 2011
A German Aerospace Center (DLR)-designed fuel cell technology demonstrator has been installed in the DLR-owned A320 fuel cell test aircraft at the Airbus site in Hamburg to explore the potential of fuel cell technology as supply for electric power in aircraft ground operation.
This is Airbus’s second fuel cell technology announcement within the space of a few weeks, the first coming in late June with the company’s partnering with Parker Aerospace on fuel cell R&D. Airbus says it considers fuel cell technology as a key contributor to meeting the ACARE (Advisory Council for Aeronautics Research in Europe) 2020 goals, which foresee the reduction of CO2 emissions by 50%, NOx emissions by 80% and noise by 50%. (Earlier post.)
Airbus is pursuing engagement of competent industrial research partners in the field of fuel cell applications. With Parker Aerospace we have a strong partner with excellent competencies in multifunctional system integration. Their engagement in this research activity underlines the potential of fuel cell technology as an alternative energy source for electrical on-board power generation. Together we are now entering a joint development phase, bringing fuel cell research activities for our industry on a global level and shape the future of the next generation of eco-efficient airplanes.
—Axel Krein, Senior Vice President Research & Technology at Airbus
Autonomous taxiing. The technology demonstrator consists of a fuel cell powering an electric motor which drives the nose landing gear wheels allowing the aircraft to taxi autonomously. The objective of these tests is to further validate the potential of the integrated fuel cell technology for powering future aircraft functionalities such as autonomous taxiing.
The data collected in the tests will be analysed by Airbus and the DLR to further develop the overall integration of this technology and potential further optimization possibilities.
Within the joint R&D activities, Airbus is in charge of the overall aircraft system architecture and technology integration into the aircraft, whereas the DLR is driving some of the basic research activities for aerospace fuel cell technology. The landing gear itself with the integrated DLR-designed fuel cell powered motor is provided by Lufthansa Technik in Hamburg.
Parker. Parker Aerospace, an operating segment of Parker Hannifin Corporation, is a longtime Airbus supplier with special competencies in multifunctional system integration.
Within this partnership Airbus will be responsible for the overall aircraft system architecture and technology integration into the aircraft, and Parker will supply the multifunctional fuel cell system and manage different subsystem suppliers.
The objective of the cooperation is the development of a technology demonstrator followed by a joint flight test campaign for the middle of the decade, including operational and infrastructural tests. With Parker Aerospace involved in the project from this earliest phase, industrialization can be considered throughout the development of the process, rather than at the end, Airbus said.
That is a very interresting use of fuelcells.
Posted by: A D | 07 July 2011 at 11:39 AM
"autonomous taxiing"
"a key contributor to meeting the ACARE"
It would be good to know how much fuel is saved and how much less pollution would be emitted. The airlines are concerned with costs for fuel and everyone should be concerned about pollution that can be avoided.
Posted by: SJC | 10 July 2011 at 09:21 AM