Optimisation of 1MW scale Hydrogen-Electric Propulsion for Regional Aircraft

Context: Aviation is acknowledged to be among the hardest sectors to decarbonise, and yet its CO2 emissions continue to rise. Hydrogen is expected to form part of the solution for zero emissions flight and fuel cells should have a place due to their inherent efficiency and higher specific energy than batteries. However, challenges with the technology increase with size and further research is needed for system optimisation at the scale of 1MW power that is required for regional aircraft.

Main scientific / engineering principles being studied:
- Hydrogen fuel cell technology (electro-chemistry)
- Optimisation of hydrogen fuel cell & battery hybrid systems (systems engineering)

The approach (e.g. lab analysis / modelling / industrial research):

1. Lab testing to characterise a complete 200kW fuel cell system.
2. Modelling of the complete system (validated using the lab testing results).
3. Modelling of a modular system to achieve higher total power.
4. Modelling of the modular hydrogen-electric system operation within a typical Regional Aircraft, to determine the operating parameters that achieve optimum performance and durability.

Potential application of the work once complete: The work will provide a basis for understanding how modular fuel cell systems can be optimised for use in aircraft from General Aviation (~150kW power) up to regional scale (~1MW power). This will enable aviation system developers and researchers to assess different system configurations for a range of aircraft applications in efforts to develop more efficient hydrogen-electric aircraft.

The proposed Centre will benefit the following groups

1. Students - develop their professional skills, a broad technical and societal knowledge of the sector and a wider appreciation of the role decarbonised fuel systems will play in the UK and internationally. They will develop a strong network of peers who they can draw on in their professional careers. We will continue to offer our training to other Research Council PhD students and cross-fertilise our training with that offered under other CDT programmes, and similar initiatives where that develops mutual benefit. We will further enhance this offering by encouraging industrialists to undertake some of our training as Professional Development ensuring a broadening of the training cohort beyond academe. Students will be very employable due to their knowledge, skills and broad industrial understanding.
2. Industrial partners - Companies identify research priorities that underpin their long-term business goals and can access state of the art facilities within the HEIs involved to support that research. They do not need to pre-define the scope of their work at the outset, so that the Centre can remain responsive to their developing research needs. They may develop new products, services or models and have access to a potential employee cohort, with an advanced skill base. We have already established a track record in our predecessor CDTs, with graduates now acting as research managers and project supervisors within industry
3. Academic partners - accelerating research within the Energy research community in each HEI. We will develop the next generation of researchers and research leaders with a broader perspective than traditional PhD research and create a bedrock of research expertise within each HEI, developing supervisory skills across a broad range of topics and faculties and supporting HEIs' goals of high quality publications leading to research impacts and an informed group of educators within each HEI. .
4. Government and regulators - we will liaise with national and regional regulators and policy makers. We will conduct research directly aligned with the Government's Clean Growth Strategy, Mission Innovation and with the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund's theme Prosper from the Energy Revolution, to help meet emission, energy security and affordability targets and we will seek to inform developing energy policy through new findings and impartial scientific advice. We will help to provide the skills base and future innovators to enable growth in the decarbonised energy sector.
5. Wider society and the publics - developing technologies to reduce carbon emissions and reduce the cost of a transition to a low carbon economy. Need to ascertain the publics' views on the proposed new technologies to ensure we are aligned with their views and that there will be general acceptance of the new technologies. Public engagement will be a two-way conversation where researchers will listen to the views of different publics, acknowledging that there are many publics and not just one uniform group. We will actively engage with public from including schools, our local communities and the 'interested' public, seeking to be honest providers of unbiased technical information in a way that is correct yet accessible.