Long Distance Flight Testing with the Fuel Cell Powered Aircraft ANTARES DLR-H2

Abstract

The Institute of Technical Thermodynamics of the German Aerospace Center has been conducting research on fuel cell systems for aircraft applications for several years. Fuel cell systems provide an interesting possibility of power generation on board of wide-bodied aircraft. The by-products of fuel cell on-board operation are water, heat and oxygen depleted air. These can be harnessed, resulting in savings of resources and reduction of overall system take-off weight. For the development of operation strategies for these systems realistic testing under aeronautic conditions is necessary. This can be performed by means of the flying test bed Antares DLR-H2. This all-electric motor glider features two payload nacelles which can be equipped either with high energy lithium-ion-accumulators or a low temperature PEM1 fuel cell system and a hydrogen pressure tank. The integration of the next generation fuel cell system has been completed in August 2012. In September 2012 long distance flight testing with the fuel cell system has been performed. In this paper the system architecture of the next generation fuel cell systems will be drafted. Furthermore the findings and measurements of the long distance flights will be presented. Finally conclusions drawn from the results will be outlined.