DLR and MTU Aero Engines study fuel cell propulsion system for aviation
August 5, 2020 | Memorandum of Understanding signing
DLR and MTU Aero Engines study fuel cell propulsion system for aviation
Close partnership between research and industry
MTU Aero Engines and DLR will work closely together in the coming years to advance the development of electric and hybrid-electric propulsion systems in aviation. In this picture (from left to right): Barnaby Law, Chief Engineer Flying Fuel Cell at MTU, Lars Wagner, MTU Chief Operating Officer, Rolf Henke, DLR Member of the Executive Board for Aeronautics Research and Technology, Burkard Wigger, Head of DLR Flight Experiments.
Electric Flight Demonstrator (artist's impression)
Electric flight opens up completely new possibilities for drastically reducing pollutant emissions from aircraft and significantly reducing noise pollution. In addition, electric propulsion systems enable completely new aircraft configurations, which should further reduce fuel consumption and thus emissions. To this end, DLR is conducting research into hybrid-electric aircraft, which could represent an important building block in the air transport of the future. A Dornier 228 aircraft serves as a flight demonstrator.
DLR and MTU Aero Engines sign Memorandum of Understanding
On 5 August 2020, DLR and MTU Aero Engines signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop a fuel cell propulsion system. A Dornier 228 aircraft will serve as the flight demonstrator. Together with its industrial partner MTU, DLR intends to equip the demonstrator with a hydrogen-powered fuel cell and a single-blade electric propeller engine in the coming years and conduct flight tests. In this picture (from left to right): Barnaby Law, Chief Engineer Flying Fuel Cell at MTU, Lars Wagner, MTU Chief Operating Officer, Rolf Henke, DLR Member of the Executive Board for Aeronautics Research, Burkard Wigger, Head of Flight Experiments Facility at DLR.
Emission-free flight is a central goal of civil aviation. Emission-free air transport could be achieved in the long term by converting hydrogen into electricity. This would enable the environment-friendly electrification of propulsion systems. The German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) and MTU Aero Engines are focusing on a fuel cell propulsion system, which they will jointly develop and validate. A Do228 will be used as the flight demonstrator. On 5 August 2020, the partners signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the DLR site in Oberpfaffenhofen.
The MoU was signed by Rolf Henke, DLR Executive Board Member for Aeronautics Research and Technology, and Lars Wagner, Chief Operating Officer at MTU Aero Engines. “Although great progress in the performance and lifespan of fuel cells has been made in recent years, there is still a considerable need for research into their use in aviation,” said Henke. “This planned joint research-industry project is the first of many steps towards emission-free aviation.” Lars Wagner adds: “As things stand today, fuel cells utilising sustainably produced hydrogen offer the greatest long-term potential for realising emissions-free aviation. We believe that they could offer sufficient performance and range for regional, short- and medium-haul aircraft.”
In order to develop and validate such technology, the partners plan to equip a Dornier 228 aircraft with a hydrogen-powered fuel cell and an electrical, single-sided propeller engine with over 500 kW shaft output, and flight test it over the coming years. Apart from water, fuel cells have no emissions and are highly efficient. The aim of the joint technology project is to develop a complete drive train suitable for aviation (power line) and its cooling (cooling line). The electrification of the powertrain is a core technology that serves to prepare a flying fuel-cell-based propulsion system. The partners are aiming for the maiden flight of the Do228 demonstrator to take place in 2026.
DLR is managing the flight project and providing and operating the research aircraft. It is also responsible for the integration and certification of the powertrain. The research institute will also offer its expertise in the fields of flight testing and aircraft aerodynamics and aeroelasticity. In its role as a partner to industry in the joint project, DLR is therefore contributing its overall system expertise. MTU is tasked with the development of the complete powertrain powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. All work and integration processes will be carried out jointly and in close coordination. Up to 80 experts will be involved.
“The flying test platform will provide important insights that we can use for the further development of electric and hybrid-electric powertrain systems and reduce the ecological footprint of aviation to zero," said Henke. On behalf of MTU, Wagner added: “The development of an airworthy fuel cell and the experience and data acquired as a result, including in the fields of aviation regulation and certification, will prove vitally important to ongoing product development.”
About MTU Aero Engines
MTU Aero Engines AG is Germany’s leading engine manufacturer. The company is a technological leader in low-pressure turbines, high-pressure compressors, turbine centre frames as well as manufacturing processes and repair techniques. In the commercial OEM business, the company plays a key role in the development, manufacturing and marketing of high-tech components together with international partners. Some 30 percent of today’s active aircraft in service worldwide have MTU components on board. In the commercial maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) sector the company ranks among the top 3 service providers for commercial aircraft engines and industrial gas turbines. The activities are combined under the roof of MTU Maintenance. In the military arena, MTU Aero Engines is Germany’s industrial lead company for practically all engines operated by the country’s military. MTU operates a network of locations around the globe; Munich is home to its corporate headquarters. In fiscal 2019, the company had a workforce of some 10,000 employees and posted consolidated sales of over 4.6 billion euro.
