Airbus Sets to Initiate Mega-watt Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Powered Flight Test
Airbus, the European aerospace giant, is pushing the boundaries of aviation technology with its latest project - a hydrogen-powered demonstrator set to revolutionize commercial air travel. The demonstrator, a key component of Airbus' ZEROe concept, will be tested on the iconic A380 MSN001, modified to carry the fuel-cell engine pod and a unique cryogenic tank for liquefied hydrogen.
The "tent" inside the A380 will be crafted out of carbon fiber and house up to four cryogenic tanks containing the liquid hydrogen. Emergency venting lines have been installed to expel the hydrogen out of the emergency line if needed.
The A380, with its spacious interior and stability, serves as the ideal host for the hydrogen fuel-cell engine demonstrator. The aircraft, a high-wing 100-seat regional airliner with six eight-bladed propellers attached to engine pods, will provide a realistic testing ground for the new technology.
The hydrogen routings inside the A380 will be located inside a protective tent environment to avoid any hydrogen entering the main pressurized interior. The fuel cell produces direct electrical current (DC) which is converted into alternating current (AC) by inverters. The hydrogen supply lines from the tank will be routed directly from the tent to the externally mounted pod.
Electric motors near the front of the pod convert the electrical power into mechanical power, and the propeller provides the thrust. Everything concerning the distribution center and the motor controller unit are being produced internally by Airbus.
Airbus is adopting a high-voltage distributed electrical architecture for up to 1,000 Volts DC and creating a bespoke engine control system. Extensive ground testing activities are underway, including electrical benches, thermal management systems, fuel-cell integration benches, and more, with the goal of testing the entire system in the integrated test bench (ITB) by 2026.
While Airbus ZEROe is a pioneering hydrogen-powered aircraft concept with multiple design studies launched since 2020 and slated for commercial entry by the mid-2030s, there are no publicly available details or confirmed plans to integrate the ZEROe propulsion systems with the Airbus A380 MSN001 test aircraft for hydrogen propulsion testing by 2026 in the sources reviewed. The ZEROe efforts are instead centered on designing new hydrogen-capable aircraft rather than retrofitting existing aircraft such as the A380.
The thermal energy generated by the fuel cell needs to be conveyed by a liquid cooling system to heat exchangers where it is dissipated into the ambient air. Water is produced as a byproduct of the electrochemical reaction and is expelled from an outlet at the back of the pod.
Airbus is designing, building, and demonstrating a megawatt-class hydrogen-powered fuel-cell engine propulsion system for a zero-emission aircraft by 2026. This groundbreaking development could pave the way for a greener future in aviation.
The hydrogen-powered fuel-cell engine demonstrator, housed inside a protective tent on the A380, represents an innovative application of air travel technology. Airbus' high-voltage distributed electrical architecture and bespoke engine control system are integral components of this new technology, designed to power a zero-emission aircraft by 2026, potentially revolutionizing the aviation industry.
