The DLR Institute of Engineering Thermodynamics just showcased the world-first HY4 hydrogen aircraft!
The global aviation industry contributes significantly to the annual greenhouse gas production. More precisely, it accounts for roughly 2%, or 915 million tons, of the total CO2 produced annually. As a result, aircraft engineers create more sustainable solutions, like hydrogen, and some are already testing prototypes.
The HY4, the world’s first hydrogen aircraft, was presented at a virtual event at Stuttgart Airport, Germany. And even better, the propulsion system in this airplane received clearance from authorities, meaning it’s now ready for take-off.
The aircraft makes use of a hybrid system for propulsion, combining fuel cells and batteries. The fuel cells combine oxygen and hydrogen to create electricity and provide enough juice for coasting. However, it doesn’t have enough power for takeoff, which is where the battery fills in.
The HY4 technology has improved significantly under Professor Josef Kallo, and it’s currently in the sixth-generation.
“The system includes redundancy concepts for the hydrogen tank, fuel cell, energy distribution, and the electric drive,” said Professor Kallo.
In simple terms, the HY4 is much more efficient than before. The institute believes that we could have a 40-passenger hydrogen aircraft with a 2,000-km (1,250 miles) range in about ten years at the current pace.
The latest development shows us that hydrogen will definitely play a significant role in transportation. Cars might work better with batteries, but they are too heavy for airplanes, unlike the lighter fuel cells. Moreover, they produce only clean water vapor. Hydrogen is also very energy-dense – only small amounts can produce a large amount of energy.
