<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Among the possible electric powerplants currently driving low-payload UAVs (up to around 10 kg of payload), batteries offer certain clear benefits, but for medium-payload operation such as aerotaxis and heavy-cargo transportation UAVs, battery capacity requirements restrict their usage due to high weight and volume. In light of this situation, fuel cell (FC) systems (FCS) offer clear benefits over batteries for the medium-payload UAV segment (> 50 kg). Nevertheless, studies regarding the application of FCS powerplants to this UAV segment are limited and the in-flight performance has not been clearly analysed. In order to address this knowledge gap, a feasibility analysis of these particular applications powered by FCS is performed in this study. A validated FC stack model (40 kW of maximum power) was integrated into a balance of plant to conform an FCS. As a novelty, the management of the FCS was optimized to maximize the FCS efficiency at different altitudes up to 12500 ft, so that the operation always implies the lowest H<sub>2</sub> consumption regardless of the altitude. In parallel, an UAV numerical model was developed based on the ATLANTE vehicle and characterized by calculating the aerodynamic coefficients through CFD simulations. Then, both models were integrated into a 0D-1D modelling platform together with an energy management strategy optimizer algorithm and a suitable propeller model. With the preliminary results obtained from the FCS and UAV models, it was possible to ascertain the range and endurance of the vehicle. As a result, it was concluded that the combination of both technologies could offer a range over 600 km and an endurance over 5 h. Finally, with the integrated UAV-FCS model, a flight profile describing a medium altitude, medium endurance mission was designed and used to analyse the viability of FC-powered UAV. The results showed how UAVs powered by FCS are viable for the considered aircraft segment, providing competitive values of specific range and endurance.</p>
</abstract>

Among the possible electric powerplants currently driving low-payload UAVs (up to around 10 kg of payload), batteries offer certain clear benefits, but for medium-payload operation such as aerotaxis and heavy-cargo transportation UAVs, battery capacity requirements restrict their usage due to high weight and volume. In light of this situation, fuel cell (FC) systems (FCS) offer clear benefits over batteries for the medium-payload UAV segment (> 50 kg). Nevertheless, studies regarding the application of FCS powerplants to this UAV segment are limited and the in-flight performance has not been clearly analysed. In order to address this knowledge gap, a feasibility analysis of these particular applications powered by FCS is performed in this study. A validated FC stack model (40 kW of maximum power) was integrated into a balance of plant to conform an FCS. As a novelty, the management of the FCS was optimized to maximize the FCS efficiency at different altitudes up to 12500 ft, so that the operation always implies the lowest H2 consumption regardless of the altitude. In parallel, an UAV numerical model was developed based on the ATLANTE vehicle and characterized by calculating the aerodynamic coefficients through CFD simulations. Then, both models were integrated into a 0D-1D modelling platform together with an energy management strategy optimizer algorithm and a suitable propeller model. With the preliminary results obtained from the FCS and UAV models, it was possible to ascertain the range and endurance of the vehicle. As a result, it was concluded that the combination of both technologies could offer a range over 600 km and an endurance over 5 h. Finally, with the integrated UAV-FCS model, a flight profile describing a medium altitude, medium endurance mission was designed and used to analyse the viability of FC-powered UAV. The results showed how UAVs powered by FCS are viable for the considered aircraft segment, providing competitive values of specific range and endurance.

Feasibility Study for a Fuel Cell-Powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicle with a 75 Kg Payload

CMt-Motores Térmicos. Universitat Politècnica de València

Transactions on Aerospace Research

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Among the possible electric powerplants currently driving low-payload UAVs (up to around 10 kg of payload), batteries offer certain clear benefits, but for...

Feasibility Study for a Fuel Cell-Powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicle with a 75 Kg Payload

Published Online: Jun 23, 2022

Page range: 13 - 30

Received: Dec 22, 2021

Accepted: Apr 01, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/tar-2022-0008

Keywords
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, fuel cell, hydrogen, optimization

© 2022 José M. Desantes et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Feasibility Study for a Fuel Cell-Powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicle with a 75 Kg Payload

Published Online: Jun 23, 2022

Page range: 13 - 30

Received: Dec 22, 2021

Accepted: Apr 01, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/tar-2022-0008

KeywordsUnmanned Aerial Vehicle, fuel cell, hydrogen, optimization

© 2022 José M. Desantes et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, fuel cell, hydrogen, optimization