DLR presents HY4 4-passenger fuel cell hybrid electric aircraft at 2016 Hannover Messe
27 April 2016
DLR is presenting the HY4—a four-seater passenger fuel cell hybrid electric aircraft prototype (earlier post)— at the 2016 Hannover Messe, along with research and development partners Hydrogenics, Pipistrel, H2FLY, the University of Ulm and Stuttgart Airport.
The HY4 is due to take off for its maiden flight in the summer of 2016. The HY4’s drive train consists of a hydrogen storage unit, a low-temperature hydrogen fuel cell and a high performance battery.
The DLR research team has successfully tested the drive train in the laboratory in recent months.
In order to take off, the engine must reliably provide a maximum take-off output for three minutes. This has already been successfully demonstrated for more than 10 minutes. The interaction of the fuel cell and the high performance battery used as a buffer and additional safety system have also been successfully demonstrated in a simplified form in the laboratory. Hence, the road is clear for installing an initial version of this propulsion system in the four-seater HY4 passenger aircraft.
The DLR Institute of Technical Thermodynamics is responsible for the overall integration of the drive train and certification of the electrochemical components for use in aeronautics. The HY4 research platform will be operated by the DLR subsidiary H2FLY. HY4 is based on an efficient battery-powered electrical aircraft concept developed by the company Pipistrel. The fuel cell stacks are supplied by the company Hydrogenics, and the electric propulsion concept, the electronic output components for the hybridization unit and the optimisation of the motor are being researched at the Institute for Energy Conversion and Storage at the University of Ulm. Der Stuttgart Airport is supporting the project as a home airport.
Interesting application, to combine FC with buffering batteries to supply enough e-energy for take off and to sustain longer flights.
It may be the way to go for small planes and drones, at least until 10-10-10 batteries are available.
The very same technology could be used for boats, locomotives, long haul heavy trucks, buses, SUVs, Pick-ups and down sized for passenger cars and for 3 and 2 wheelers?
Posted by: HarveyD | 27 April 2016 at 10:00 AM
In the link below, you can get an impression from the second image
of the all electric design that Airbus Industries is presently developing. All text comments are in German only. No propellers implemented, only impellers.
http://www.welt.de/wirtschaft/article127296225/So-will-Airbus-die-Zukunft-des-Fliegens-gestalten.html
Posted by: yoatmon | 28 April 2016 at 03:57 AM
This is the toy that is essentially 2 2-seat sailplanes hooked together with a common center wing section.
If anyone was trying to make a serious carbon-free aerial people-hauler, they could get a Cessna Caravan with its engine modified to burn ammonia and add fuel tankage out on the wings, perhaps at the junction with the struts to provide more strength against downward loads during hard landings. It would go faster, have more range, and haul 3 times as many passengers.
Posted by: Engineer-Poet | 28 April 2016 at 06:20 AM
Sooner or later we will have to find ways to fly without burning liquid fuels.
Electric planes are one possible solution but much improvement is required to increase the efficiency of the energy generation units and H2 and e-storage.
Better SS H2 storage tanks, better FCs combined with 10-10-10 batteries could be a way to supply enough power for small planes (2 to 10 passengers) by 2030+ or so.
It is not impossible to do.
BEV and FCEVs would also benefit.
Posted by: HarveyD | 28 April 2016 at 07:44 AM
Yeah, the sky isn't the place where I want to rely solely in battery power.
Turbines can be very efficient. I am okay with burning fossil fuels for now, drop in bio replacements, in the near term, and a combination of super batteries/bio/ fc in the long term.
I'd like to see a larger movement in bio fuels segment, even if that meant some subsidies. I think people would come up with very creative ways if it was limited to waste streams. Human waste alone could probably fuel the transportation sector indirectly/directly. Overtime it could reduce carbon in our atmosphere depending on how it's carried out.
Posted by: CheeseEater88 | 30 April 2016 at 06:02 AM
That and it would be so fun to live in a world with a 1% higher or more oxygen level. Fires would be brutal, ICEs would be fast, and bugs would be massive.(and easier to swat)
Posted by: CheeseEater88 | 30 April 2016 at 06:05 AM