INTEGRATION OF A SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL PROPULSION SYSTEM: A TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT GOAL FOR REGIONAL AIRCRAFT

Kurzfassung

Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) offer high potential for aircraft propulsion. They promise a higher efficiency than Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) and operate at significantly higher temperatures. While PEMFC powertrains face challenges in designing their thermal management system to manage their waste heat, within SOFC powertrains the focus shifts to a thorough conditioning system design instead. The technology readiness level of SOFCs with regard to mobile applications, however, needs to be improved to become applicable for aviation. This study derives a development goal for SOFC concerning its gravimetric power density. Therefore, the integration of an SOFC propulsion system into a regional aircraft in the category of 50 passengers is investigated on overall aircraft level. A multidisciplinary design analysis is conducted combining a conceptual aircraft design tool and mid-fidelity simulation codes for critical technologies and disciplines, e.g. the SOFC-powertrain sizing. Two integration configurations are designed and analyzed: one with the SOFC system integrated into the aircraft’s nacelles and one into the fuselage. Additionally, computational fluid dynamics analyses assess the influence of the different nacelle sizes on the aerodynamic performance. A design study regarding the SOFC’s gravimetric power density identified a minimum requirement of 450 W/kg on stack level to be achieved in order to compete with an evolutionary advanced conventional regional aircraft for the year 2050.