The advantage of a fuel cell is, you have direct conversion of energy from
chemical to electrical," says Michel Loignon, an engineering manager at Parker
Aerospace. "We're taking a collection of reasonably mature technologies and
integrating them.
To accommodate the need for additional power, aircraft are often designed with
slightly larger engines than is strictly necessary, increasing the overall
weight of the aircraft. The weight of the fuel cell and its fuel supply would be
more than offset by the removal of the auxiliary power unit and the fact that it
generates power more efficiently, says Loignon.
There are other savings to be had. "[The fuel cell] breathes air, so it will
displace oxygen and generate water," says Rolf. This means the system could
reduce the amount of water the aircraft needs to carry at takeoff; on some large
airliners that water can weigh as much as 3,000 pounds. The oxygen could also
help keep the fuel tanks stable. These savings will eventually be combined with
electric-powered wheels for taxiing. "In the commercial implementation, we are
hoping to achieve north of 15 percent" overall fuel savings, says Rolf.
"In the long term, it's a good idea," says William Crowther , an aerospace
engineer at Manchester University, in the U.K. But he cautions that fuel cells
can be bulky, which can sometimes be more of an issue than weight on an
aircraft. He also notes that carrying hydrogen on board will introduce new
safety challenges.
Yonkers, New York
Orange, California
Fort Wayne Indiana USA
Penrith, Australia,
Paraguay, Asuncion
Glendale, California
Cameroon, Yaounde
Zimbabwe, Hararesssss
Al Qir, United Arab Emirates, Al Qir, UAE
Mount Gambier, South Australia
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