Periodic Reporting for period 2 - fLHYing tank (flight demonstration of a Liquid HYdrogen load-bearing tank in an unmanned cargo platform)
Reporting period: 2023-07-01 to 2023-12-31
The fLHYing tank project aims to flight-test a 1,000-liter flight-load-bearing vacuum-insulated composite LH2 tank in the Pipistrel Nuuva V300 cargo UAV. This project proposal is disruptive in several perspectives: (i) definition of requirements, design, manufacturing and qualification of a relevant-scale flight-load-bearing fully composite liquid hydrogen tank, (ii) accelerated acquisition of knowledge via flight-testing low-TRL hazardous technologies using UAVs, and (iii) effective application of the knowledge via calibration of a fluid-dynamic, thermal and structural digital twin of a composite LH2 tank using flight test data for advancement towards digitalized certification of aeronautical technologies.
The fLHYing tank project covers the disruptive maturation of lightweight liquid hydrogen storage systems via the accelerated acquisition of knowledge on flight operation of LH2 tanks, as required by the demonstrator strategy of the Clean Aviation Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda.
The main impact of the fLHYing tank project is the unprecedented reduction in the time-to-market of revolutionary technologies in the aeronautical industry, thanks to the ground-breaking fast-track flight testing of a relevant-scale composite LH2 storage system using a UAV, achieving comprehensive understanding of the behaviour of LH2 tanks in the flight environment within minimum timeframe, risk, and cost. This ambitious goal can be achieved within the 1st phase of the Clean Aviation Programme thanks to the fLHYing tank project.
The fLHYing tank project covers the disruptive maturation of lightweight liquid hydrogen storage systems via the accelerated acquisition of knowledge on flight operation of LH2 tanks, as required by the demonstrator strategy of the Clean Aviation Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda.
The main impact of the fLHYing tank project is the unprecedented reduction in the time-to-market of revolutionary technologies in the aeronautical industry, thanks to the ground-breaking fast-track flight testing of a relevant-scale composite LH2 storage system using a UAV, achieving comprehensive understanding of the behaviour of LH2 tanks in the flight environment within minimum timeframe, risk, and cost. This ambitious goal can be achieved within the 1st phase of the Clean Aviation Programme thanks to the fLHYing tank project.
- Liquid hydrogen storage and distribution system requirements have been defined and frozen in a System Requirements Review.
- Safety assessments at aircraft level, for liquid hydrogen handling, and for ground and flight testing activities, have been performed.
- Thermal, fluid-dynamic, and structural assessments on different liquid hydrogen tank solutions have been performed, obtaining information that has been used for system architecting decisions.
- Several system, subsystem, and component architecture solutions have been proposed and cross-evaluated.
- A material screening campaign on permeability of composite samples after immersion in liquid hydrogen has been performed, obtaining knowledge on the permeability of different materials and the impact of liquid hydrogen exposure on material permeability.
- Vacuum tightness rapid loss risk has been identified. Technical and project-level assessments on different mitigation measures have been performed by the consortium. This activity has led to the decision of change of tank technology to a Type III tank with demonstrated vacuum tightness, involving a change of partner.
- Safety assessments at aircraft level, for liquid hydrogen handling, and for ground and flight testing activities, have been performed.
- Thermal, fluid-dynamic, and structural assessments on different liquid hydrogen tank solutions have been performed, obtaining information that has been used for system architecting decisions.
- Several system, subsystem, and component architecture solutions have been proposed and cross-evaluated.
- A material screening campaign on permeability of composite samples after immersion in liquid hydrogen has been performed, obtaining knowledge on the permeability of different materials and the impact of liquid hydrogen exposure on material permeability.
- Vacuum tightness rapid loss risk has been identified. Technical and project-level assessments on different mitigation measures have been performed by the consortium. This activity has led to the decision of change of tank technology to a Type III tank with demonstrated vacuum tightness, involving a change of partner.
Thermal, fluid-dynamic, and structural assessments on novel composite liquid hydrogen storage solutions have been performed. These results can potentially be published in scientific journals and conference proceedings.
The permeability of 3 novel composite materials for cryogenic composite tanks after exposure to LH2 has been characterized. New knowledge on the behaviour of such materials after LH2 exposure has been gathered.
The permeability of 3 novel composite materials for cryogenic composite tanks after exposure to LH2 has been characterized. New knowledge on the behaviour of such materials after LH2 exposure has been gathered.