EKPO to supply fuel cell stacks for first non-stop H2 flight around the world
03 August 2024
The “Climate Impulse” project aims to showcase how efficient solutions can set the world on a sustainable course. As part of this project, high-tech engineering specialist 49SUD is responsible for the design and manufacture of an aircraft, which—powered by green hydrogen—is set to circumnavigate the globe in a historic maiden flight.
The aircraft is to be piloted by a crew of two, who will cover an estimated 40,000 km in a non-stop, around-the-world flight lasting nine days. Powered by two electric motors with an output of 200 kW each, the aircraft is capable of a cruising speed of around 180 km/h.
The electrical power required is supplied by the PEM fuel cell stacks from EKPO Fuel Cell Technologies GmbH. The green hydrogen is stored on board in liquid form in two tanks, each with a volume of around 11 m³.
"We are delighted that our stacks will feature in this pioneering project. From our perspective, one of the key aspects was that the properties of our stacks once again proved a compelling factor when it comes to this pioneering project: compact design, excellent performance, and high efficiency. In particular, the high level of efficiency and, in turn, the low degree of hydrogen consumption is essential to the success of the project.
The project also highlights the very broad scope of application of fuel cells. Fuel cells have a valuable role to play wherever sustainable drive technology meets demanding efficiency and performance requirements—whether on-road in heavy goods vehicles, off-highway in commercial vehicles, in rail or marine applications, in stationary systems deployed at data centers or hospitals, or even in the aviation sector.
—Dr. Stefan Dwenger, Chief Commercial Officer of EKPO Fuel Cell Technologies GmbH
Another era of 'Those magnificent men in their flying machines!' is dawning!
In France, some guys are looking to build a pure electric plane to replicate the first crossing of the Mediterranean by plane, although it will take them a few years they say (Fr, or use google translate!)
https://www.lefigaro.fr/secteur/high-tech/avion-integral-e-et-si-on-volait-a-l-electricite-20240803
I love that they are going for wood and bamboo to keep down weight!
For a bash at a commercial BEV plane, they are trying to develop a 19 seater, which seems to me a more realistic target for BEV only than fancy VTOLs and so on.
Posted by: Davemart | 03 August 2024 at 09:23 AM
Maximizing the energy density of LH2 to get the most range, showing feasibility to make an LH2 commercial transport.
Posted by: GdB | 03 August 2024 at 12:22 PM
GdB
I fully agree, and have posted links extensively here recently on progress, including:
In the UK a testing program showed that the NG grid can be fully converted to carry hydrogen, at mixtures increasing to 100%
Salt cavern storage for hydrogen having in the UK the capacity to provide reserves for that ( salt cavern are also extensive in the US)
Transport of hydrogen liquified with nitrogen, which enables easy shipping transport and reduces the energy costs of liquifaction.
Airbus is currently in Airbus 380 setting up testing for using cryogenics from an onboard liquid hydrogen tank to supercool cabling, getting rid of copper and reducing weight whilst increasing efficiency
Zero Avia is testing a 1.2MW fuel cell engine and system suitable for regional aircraft.
I would be grateful indeed to have your lights on any of this, and of course if you don't spot the links, will of course provide them if you are interested in any of these topics and have not come across them.
Posted by: Davemart | 03 August 2024 at 12:51 PM
I'm really interested in an electric aircraft but do contemporary means offer the technically best solutions? I've often thought that a tangential fan (T-Fan) would be an enticing approach for a small aircraft suited for personal transport. A T-Fan has a far greater air volume displacement than a conventional propeller and is also much quieter. Such a dual T-Fan could be driven by an electric axial flux motor located between two fans.
A shroud or fan housing with a single exit duct could be mounted rotatably around the fan through an angle of 90° varying from vertical to horizontal thrust. Thus the aircraft could easily switch continuously from vertical lift to horizontal flight.
Posted by: yoatmon | 06 August 2024 at 08:27 AM
Here's a company using those fans for a vertical takeoff craft
https://evtol.news/CycloTech-Passenger-Demonstrator
Posted by: SJC | 06 August 2024 at 11:25 AM
@ SJC: Thanks for the link. Close to what I imagine but differs in details to the solution I envisage.
Posted by: yoatmon | 07 August 2024 at 02:56 AM
The problem with some of those fans is they are not able to handle back pressure and vector thrust is back pressure so what these guys have done in their design is be able to have variable blade geometry to deal with that
Posted by: SJC | 07 August 2024 at 02:57 PM