Descrizione del progetto
Verso la realizzazione di un gruppo propulsore elettrico a idrogeno a emissioni zero per i piccoli aeromobili
Gli aeromobili alimentati da celle a combustibile a idrogeno rappresentano una grande promessa per la decarbonizzazione dell’industria dell’aviazione. Il progetto HEAVEN, finanziato dall’UE, mira a realizzare il gruppo propulsore, ovvero il meccanismo che fa funzionare l’aeromobile, per un piccolo aeromobile esistente (in grado di trasportare fino a quattro passeggeri). In particolare, il progetto adatterà alle applicazioni degli aeromobili due sistemi di celle a combustibile con membrana elettrolitica polimerica da 45 kW, integrando tali sistemi con componenti ottimizzati per il bilanciamento dell’impianto. Il sistema di celle a combustibile da 90 kW così potenziato consentirà il funzionamento dell’aeromobile senza batteria. Per lo stoccaggio dell’idrogeno liquido serviranno temperature criogeniche. Per la prima volta verrà impiegata la tecnologia criogenica per applicazioni aeronautiche, allo scopo di migliorare le densità di energia dei serbatoi di idrogeno pressurizzato. Le celle a combustibile e i sistemi criogenici verranno abbinati al sistema di trasmissione di un aeromobile esistente.
Obiettivo
The main goal of HEAVEN project is to design, develop and integrate a powertrain based on high power fuel cell and cryogenic technology into an existing 2-4 seats aircraft for testing in flight operation. Specifically, the project proposes to design a modular architecture with modular systems that can be scale-up to other sizes of aircrafts and UAV applications. The design methodology is complemented with safety and regulation analysis. Regarding the fuel cell technology, two high power PEM fuel cell systems of 45 kW based on metallic bipolar plates will be adapted for aircraft applications and integrated with optimized balance of plant components to obtain an enhanced 90kW fuel cell system able to propel without support of a battery the aircraft operating modes. The hydrogen storage will be based on cryogenic technology successfully applied in previous space applications in order to achieve a gravimetric index of about 15% for a hydrogen payload between 10 and 25 kg that provides an autonomy range to the demonstrator of 5-8 hours. Moreover, HEAVEN project will leverage existing drivetrain components and an aircraft demonstrator in order to achieve an overall and successful TRL6 at the end of the project. The technology developments will be enriched with economic and business assessments during the execution of the project. Thus, HEAVEN will produce estimations of a total cost of ownership for the entire life cycle of the technology and business plan for the deployment of the technology in different aeronautics applications.
Finally, HEAVEN consortium comprises large companies, SMEs and well-known research center with a strong experience and knowledge in fuel cell technology development for aeronautic applications that is supported with the participation in previous relevant H2020 projects and national projects.
Campo scientifico
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Parole chiave
Programma(i)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinatore
70327 Stuttgart
Germania