UK fuel cell manufacturer Intelligent Energy(IE) has unveiled its IE-FLIGHT hydrogen fuel system and product range, designed specifically for sub-regional and regional aircraft.
IE-FLIGHT Hydrogen Fuel System
This system offers industry-leading power densities and superior performance due to its unique architecture. This design mitigates and resists heatThis design mitigates and resists heat, allowing the fuel cells to operate efficiently at high temperatures, reducing the need for large and heavy heat exchangers. More precisely, it achieves lower aerodynamic drag and better flight performance.
In addition, IE-FLIGHT fuel cells have exceptional transient response times, which optimizes their performance in dynamic flight situations. Moreover, the company plans to exhibit its IE-FLIGHT F300 model at the Farnborough International Airshow, demonstrating its applicability in eVTOL aircraft and other sub-regional and regional designs. The system’s versatility allows it to be installed on both new Part 23 and existing designs, and it is even adaptable for Part 25 aircraft, opening up possibilities for multiple scales of operation.
The drive towards zero-emission aviation solutions responds to the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Currently, aviation contributes between 2 and 3% of global emissions, with projections indicating an increase to 8-15% by 2050.
Intelligent Energy technology
One of the most innovative aspects of IE-FLIGHT technology is its smaller heat exchanger, which enables patented evaporative cooling that redefines thermal efficiency. This breakthrough allows the fuel cells to operate at high temperatures, thus reducing the weight and drag of the aircraft. This is made possible by having fewer moving parts compared to conventional gas turbine or piston engines.
This simplified design, coupled with advanced monitoring methods, allows precise control of system performance and health, giving operators greater confidence in planning service intervals.
The IE-FLIGHT system features a simplified balance of plant, improving power density and reliability. In addition, sustainable aviation fuel(SAF) still faces challenges in terms of cost and emissions, hydrogen emerges as a viable alternative. hydrogen emerges as a viable alternativeby offering zero direct emissions and competitive refueling times.
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Source and photo:Intelligent Energy