Fuel cell propulsion system for Aircraft Megawatt Engines

Green hydrogen as a fuel offers the possibility to significantly reduce aircraft greenhouse gas emissions. When liquid hydrogen (LH2) is used as an energy carrier for power generation with fuel cells (FC), this would result in strongly reduced emissions with no CO2, no SOx and no NOx emissions en route. The development of a hydrogen propulsive FC system as an integral part of a new LH2 aircraft concept would be a possible variant to aim for this. However, this means moving away from the current “plug and play” philosophy (separate motor development and aircraft architecture) towards a disruptive integrated way of development, which requires a co-creation approach of the propulsion system and the aircraft.The focus of FAME is on developing a complete compact high-efficiency multi-MW FC propulsion system based on LH2 as an energy source for short range aircraft. FAME will develop all the subsystems which are needed and integrate these in a MW FC Propulsion System ground demonstrator with the vision to scale it up to aircraft level (sufficient for short range aircraft). This is realised by taking up the above described design path with a collaborative research and development approach between partners involved in development of the needed systems of the fuel cell propulsion system and Airbus as an aircraft designer, manufacturer and integrator. Thus, it is ensured that an optimised design on all levels, starting with material for components and subsystems, up to the propulsion system at the aircraft level, is realised. The system will provide the basis for further activities in Clean Aviation in Phase 2.