Methods to develop PEM fuel cell-based powertrains for regional aircraft – a multiple scales approach

Abstract

In this paper, four different test environments operated by the DLR Institute of Engineering Thermodynamics are presented. These test environments are designed for the development and optimization of fuel cell systems and fuel cell-based powertrains for aircraft applications and the development of application-specific operating strategies. To this end, the research is conducted on different scales, ranging from the investigation of short-stack fuel cell systems with a few kW power under high-altitude conditions to the analysis of the coupling behavior of the different subsystems of a fuel cell-based electrical powertrain in the MW range. Selected results of experimental investigations are discussed. On the one hand, these results highlight the large optimization potential through altitude-adaptive fuel cell system control. On the other hand, the successful proof of performance of a multi-stack fuel cell system and an e-drive system in the MW range conducted on a novel large-scale research facility is shown.