Multi-Stack Fuel Cell System Architecture for Aviation

Abstract

(Hybrid) electric flight represents a transformative approach to reducing the environmental impact of aviation. Among the various technological pathways under investigation, hydrogen-powered polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells offer a promising low-emission source of electrical energy. While PEM fuel cells are already deployed in select mobile applications, including the automotive and heavy goods transport industries, significant technological challenges remain for their application in aerospace contexts. The unique demands of aviation necessitate addressing critical factors such as reducing system mass, enhancing overall efficiency and reliability under dynamic environmental and load conditions. Furthermore, the scalability of fuel cell systems into the megawatt range remains an area of primarily theoretical exploration. Although research on the control and regulation of fuel cell systems for ground-based applications is well-documented, there is limited literature focusing on aviation-specific requirements. In particular, there is a lack of experimental studies that validate multi-stack fuel cell systems (MFCS) and investigate their scalability for high-power aviation applications. This work aims to address these gaps by examining critical design decisions in engineering a multi-stack fuel cell system.