Naval Research Lab uses liquid hydrogen to almost double endurance record for small electric UAV
10 May 2013
Researchers at the US Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) flew their fuel cell powered Ion Tiger unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for 48 hours and 1 minute, 16-18 April, by using liquid hydrogen (LH2) fuel in a new, NRL-developed, cryogenic fuel storage tank and delivery system. This flight shatters their previous record of 26 hours and 2 minutes set in 2009 using the same vehicle, but with gaseous hydrogen stored at 5,000 pounds per square inch (psi).
Liquid hydrogen is three times more dense than compressed hydrogen. The cryogenic liquid is stored in a lightweight tank, allowing more hydrogen to be carried onboard to increase flight endurance. Success in flight requires developing a high quality, lightweight insulated flight Dewar for the cryogenic fuel, plus matching the boil off of the cryogenic hydrogen to the vehicle fuel consumption.
Liquid hydrogen coupled with fuel-cell technology has the potential to expand the utility of small unmanned systems by greatly increasing endurance while still affording all the benefits of electric propulsion.
—Dr. Karen Swider-Lyons, NRL principal investigator
Although long endurance is possible with conventional, hydrocarbon-fueled systems, these are usually loud, inefficient, and unreliable in this aircraft class. Similarly, small, electric, battery-powered systems are limited to endurances of only several hours.
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| The NRL flight crew holds the Ion Tiger unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). From left to right: Dan Edwards, Mike Baur, Steve Carruthers, Joe MacKrell, Rick Stroman, Mike Schuette (Sotera Defence), Drew Rodgers and Chris Bovais. (Photo: U.S. Naval Research Laboratory) Click to enlarge. |
To address the logistics of in-theater supply of liquid or gaseous hydrogen, NRL proposes in-situ manufacture of LH2 for use as fuel. An electrolyzer-based system would require only water for feedstock and electricity, possibly from solar or wind, to electrolyze, compress and refrigerate the fuel.
The NRL LH2 flight capability is being developed by NRL’s Tactical Electronic Warfare and Chemistry Divisions, and is sponsored by the Office of Naval Research.
Sounds good, 42 hours is no joke, but the fuel might be hard to handle - this is the Navel Research Lab, and they probably have skills in beyond most aviators.
Posted by: mahonj | 12 May 2013 at 01:34 AM
Sounds good with LH2 with an energy density of about 1/3 of gasoline? The FC used must be highly efficient?
Posted by: HarveyD | 12 May 2013 at 03:46 PM