During Toyota’s tour Driving towards a Hydrogen-Society fifty journalists stopped by at the DLR Stuttgart to get a close look at the aircraft HY4. Traveling with this airplane means no noise and emission free flight with hydrogen as fuel.
The Airplane
The HY4 – the world’s first four-seater passenger aircraft powered solely by a hydrogen fuel cell system and electric propulsion – marks a milestone on this path. Longstanding experience in battery, fuel cell and hydrogen technology research in the aviation and energy sectors make DLR and its partners experts in the fields of ‘More Electric Aircraft’ (MEA) and ‘All Electric Aircraft’ (AEA).
Fuel cells - efficient and reliable, even for aviation
Fuel cells can be used for static power supply (mostly in combined heat and power systems) or for vehicle propulsion. The electrical efficiency of fuel cells is up to 60 percent and higher than with other technologies. The DLR Institute of Engineering Thermodynamics is working on further development of both high temperature fuel cells that can use natural gas directly and low temperature fuel cells, called polymer electrolyte fuel cells, that use hydrogen or methanol as fuel. The researchers are investigating new materials and cell designs and are working on industrial manufacturing techniques that will result in a reliable and highly scalable production. The challenge faced when developing fuel cells is slowing the ageing process, and thus extending the operating life. By measuring the current density distribution, scientists can monitor the degradation processes and thus improve fuel cells in the medium term.
One innovative application largely developed by DLR is the integration of hydrogen fuel cell systems in passenger aircraft. One application is a multi-functional fuel cell system which as an auxiliary power unit to supply electrical loads on a comercial airplane, and also to produce water for use in the cabin. The fuel cell could also power up an electric nose wheel, which can substantially reduce the emission of pollutants during ground operations of Airbus A320 type aircraft. A second more challenging application is an aircraft propulsion system. Thus scientist took the challenge, the result,the HY4 aircraft is the world’s first four-seat passenger aircraft powered only by a hydrogren fuel cell system.With its official maiden flight in September 2016 and additoonal 30 takeoff and landings the 4 passenger, 1500MTOW airplane showed good performance and refueling handlings.
Hydrogen – power storage from renewable sources
What should be done with surplus power when the wind is blowing and demand is low? It can be used to produce hydrogen through electrolysis. The stored gas can subsequently be re-used in a gas turbine or fuel cell to generate power, or for other purposes. Researchers at DLR are working on methods to generate hydrogen more efficiently and cost effectively. They have developed a coating for electrodes employed in alkaline electrolysis, which significantly reduces the electricity demand for the production of hydrogen. With polymer electrolysis technology, DLR researchers are improving the durability of the components that enable the benefits of high hydrogen yield and great flexibility of output to be exploited. High temperature electrolysis, which DLR is also working on, is still in the early stages of development.
DLR energy research
DLR energy research is concentrating on environmentally friendly, efficient and low-cost energy supply and storage on a scale relevant to the energy industry. It works on efficient and environmentally friendly power generation, on thermal, electrochemical and chemical energy storage and on the analysis and further development of the energy system. DLR has been working on energy research and making important contributions to a sustainable energy system since the mid-1970s.