Feasibility Study on a Fuel Cell Based Powertrain for General Aviation

Sustainability and Decarbonization also reached the aviation industry. In automotive applications, combustion-engine driven powertrains were replaced by battery-powered electric propulsion concepts. Since electric batteries do not provide the same energy density as carbon-based fuels, the distance travelled per re-fill is reduced. With electric land vehicles this is compensated by recharging during stops. In aviation applications this is not possible, because a certain distance must be reached for safety as well as for commercial aspects. One promising option for the aviation industry will be to use electric powertrains supported by fuel cells, exployting the high energy density of hydrogen. In this paper, a fuel cell-based electric powertrain for general aviation was developed and applied to low-drag blended wing type aircraft. Additionally, investigations were done to apply this technology to a vertical takeoff and landing type of the same aircraft. The estimation and simulation results worked out in this study show that hydrogen-powered intra-contintental flights are feasible