The Feasibility of Hydrogen Fuel Cells as a Solution Toward Zero Emissions in General Aviation Aircraft

In this chapter, hydrogen fuel cell (HFC) technology is investigated as a solution for the general aviation industry. A modified Cessna 172 installed with poly-membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) was modelled through MATLAB/Simulink software with Hydrogen (H2) as fuel. Under different scenarios, a model was produced in Simulink investigating hydrogen in the gaseous state at 350 and 700 bars, and in liquid at 5 bars. The maximum reduction obtained in fuel required was over 80%. However, the mass comparisons between the original Cessna 172 and HFC-powered Cessna model indicate that the HFC system brings an extra 6.9–30% mass. For a modified one-pilot Cessna 172, only four of the seven test scenarios allowed it to take-off. Power densities obtained were between 213 and 403 Wh/kg for the scenario runs, which were lower than expected. The greatest drawback of HFC-powered aircraft is the additional mass that they bring, specifically the tank mass. Overall, the data produced show that PEMFCs are a strong candidate for clean propulsion on small general aviation aircraft. There is therefore an opportunity for researching how to reduce hydrogen tank mass, to further increase the capabilities of HFCs for the general aviation industry.