GKN Aerospace has efficiently achieved a significant milestone delivering a ground-based demonstrator of a liquid hydrogen plane gasoline system. The demonstrator was designed, constructed and examined in collaboration with Filton Programs Engineering, beneath the Innovate UK-funded Protected Flight mission. The objective of the mission was to research the feasibility of utilizing a liquid hydrogen gasoline supply to extend the endurance of a search and rescue uncrewed aerial system (UAS) idea.
The mission enabled GKN to know and handle lots of the security considerations raised by the introduction of such a novel gasoline. Built-in gasoline tank design and distribution options have been developed, together with vaporization and conditioning of the liquid hydrogen. The efficiency of the gasoline system was verified by coupling it with a proton alternate membrane (PEM) gasoline cell stack, consultant of the kind that may very well be put in on a future zero emission plane. The mission demonstrated profitable storage and administration of liquid hydrogen, supplying the gasoline cell energy system with hydrogen on the required temperature and strain over a variety {of electrical} masses typical of a UAS search and rescue mission.
Key outcomes of the mission embody growth of protected system design, manufacturing information, operational information for liquid hydrogen gasoline programs, hydrogen gasoline system take a look at information, and an adaptable take a look at rig suited to additional research of hydrogen elements and subsystems.
Max Brown VP Expertise GKN Aerospace stated: ’’We’re delighted with the result of this mission and consider we’re very a lot on the forefront of exploring the challenges on this space. In a single finish – finish take a look at setting the crew have demonstrated fueling and storage of liquid hydrogen, conditioning and distribution of cryogenic fuel, and using PEM gasoline cells to generate electrical energy.” Brown continued ”while the main target of this work was on a small scale platform, the achievement is extremely aligned with different work we’re conducting in applications equivalent to H2GEAR, the place we’re delivering propulsion applied sciences targeted on enabling zero emissions flight.’’
The Protected Flight mission has positioned GKN Aerospace for bigger and extra advanced demonstrations of hydrogen-powered plane sooner or later, as the corporate continues to pursue its mission to turn into “essentially the most trusted and sustainable associate within the sky.”
