The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) this month establish a hydrogen refueling process to support ZeroAvia’s efforts to convert the fossil-fuel propulsion systems of existing fixed-wing aircraft. The company recently began flight testing a converted Piper Malibu technology demonstrator from its base at Cranfield Airport in the UK.
EMEC has developed what it describes as an “end-to-end hydrogen refueling solution” in partnership with a sub-contractor called Fuel Cell Systems Limited. The mobile system includes a re-deployable modular electrolyzer, a trailer-mounted air compressor, and a 350-bar refueling truck.
The companies say the vehicle is the first of its kind to meet European ADR safety standards for the transportation of hazardous materials on public roads. It can store up to 55 kg of hydrogen, which is sufficient to support several test flights each day.
ZeroAvia has received financial support from the UK government-backed Aerospace Technology Institute and the Innovate UK HyFlyer project. The California-based company says that by the end of the year it will be ready to fly the Piper aircraft up to 300 miles from the Orkney islands to the mainland of Scotland. EMEC, which is part of Heriot-Watt University, is based at Stromness in the Orkneys, where it has built a hydrogen production plant.
On September 24, ZeroAvia made what it says was the first flight of its complete hydrogen propulsion system, including hydrogen fuel cells. It is now working to expand the hydrogen storage capacity of the Piper aircraft to increase its power rating from 230 kW to 260 kW, which is close to that of the aircraft’s existing piston engine.
“Operating a mobile 350-bar hydrogen refueling solution, the HyFlyer truck can provide hydrogen fuelling services to locations with no existing or fixed hydrogen infrastructure which is enabling the solution to be used in an airport setting,” explained EMECE managing director Neil Kermode. “We found that there was no standard for hydrogen refueling in an aviation setting so the mobile solution has been developed in accordance with the automotive J2601 hydrogen fueling standards while being bespoke to best fit the project needs.”
