A hydrogen fuel cell is a device that converts hydrogen gas & air into electricity and water. Although these devices are much lower power density than batteries, they can pump out that power for many hours, depending on the amount of fuel you are storing.
At Loughborough University UK, we are working on a fuel cell and LiPo hybrid, to give you the oompf for take off (and go-arounds!) and the long endurance for cruise and loiter.
The base aircraft is the Skywalker X8, modified to carry considerably more weight than it is designed for (currently 4.5kg all up, and pushing towards 6kg with more testing).
This video briefly explains the platform setup, shows a video using ArduPilot's autonomous take-off, and concludes with a short 4.5kg flight.
In the coming weeks look forward to videos of the payload approaching 6kg, and the fuel cell being connected properly and providing some of the power!
Comments
Austin, I´m referring to the airframe in the link I posted about the flight in 2007...
Nothing about the one of the starter of this post.
Blended winds can be effecient, but are not automatically...
MarcS 23 R ...inefficient airframe....
Cruise ML/D:
SAX-40: 20.1
Boeing PW BWB ML/D : 17-18
Boeing 777 ML/D : 17.0
ML/D = (Mach number) X (Lift) ÷ (Drag)
http://silentaircraft.org/features
http://web.mit.edu/aeroastro/news/magazine/aeroastro-no4/silentairc...
it appears the blended wing is very efficient
Horizon has done quite a bit of work on UAV fuel cells. You can check them out here: http://www.hes.sg/
They also sell kits...but boy are they expensive!
Have you found a cheaper alternative?
Great stuff Simon!
Please let me know if there are any mods to ArduPlane that would be useful for your work. I have an X8 myself, and I've been interested in using a fuel cell for a while.
Cheers, Tridge
Hi,
the feasibility of a (purely) fuel cell powered plane was demonstrated in 2007: http://www.smartfish.ch/index.cfm/fuseaction/show/path/1-129.htm
I just question their concept of using an inefficient drive (1kW ducted fan...) and inefficient airframe.
With another concept this could have been a long endurance craft.
I´m wondering why we did not see more in the meantime??
Great!! A fuel cell is a very good idea. So the combo: fuel(whatever) + fuelcell + emotor is more efficient than a normal rc combustion engine - even with the higher weight that will reduce the benefit? Interesting.
Keep it coming!
Cheers Kraut Rob
P.s: If you are going for alcohol, take ethanol :) :)
why don't you use methanol based fuel cells ? power density of methanol is much higher and you don't need high pressure vessels
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