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09.30.2008: "Maiden flight" in Terminal 1

Logo DLR

In September 30. 2008, the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) presented the world’s first self-launch capable piloted aircraft with fuel-cell based propulsion. The event took place at Stuttgart airport, and it was attended by Günther H. Oettinger, prime minister for the federal state of Baden-Württemberg. The Antares DLR-H2 is scheduled to perform its first take off powered by fuel-cells before the end of this year. The aircraft, which has been developed by the DLR Institute for Technical Thermodynamics and Lange Aviation GmbH, is a flying test bed for fuel-cell technology. The Antares DLR-H2, together with an accompanying exhibition about the future of fuel-cell in aviation, can be viewed in the entry hall of terminal 1 until October 14.

Antares DLR-H2
The Antares DLR-H2 in Terminal 1 of Stuttgart airport

"With the Antares DLR-H2, the DLR, together with Lange Aviation GmbH, produce a technology platform that brings the utilization of fuel-cells in aviation forward significantly", says Prof. Dr.MSc Joachim Szodruch, board of DLR /aviation, underlining the importance of the research project. After greetings by Prof. Georg Fundel, CEO of Stuttgart Airport, Prime minister Günther H. Oettinger congratulated all project participants "with this highly ambitious Baden-Württembergian and Rheinland-Pfälzian cooperative project". The prime minister was very pleased in having a re-search institution in Baden-Württemberg, devoting itself to research into the energy technologies of the future, and thus in securing the climate and environment for future generations.

Prime minister Guenther H. Oettinger Prof. Dr.-Ing. Joachim Szodruch
Prime minister Günther H. Oettinger Prof. Dr.MSc Joachim Szodruch, Board of DLR, Responsibility: aviation

"Internationally we stand before a new age of technological leaps and innovations. In this, challenges which include not only environmental and climatic protection, but also the finiteness of the natural resources on our planet play a central role as an incentive". This is why Baden-Württemberg has been providing targeted subvention and has expanded the research and development of fuel-cell technology.

Prof. Dr. Dr.-Ing. Hans Mueller Steinhagen Dr. Josef Kallo
Prof. Dr. Dr.MSc Hans Müller Steinhagen, Director of the DLR Institute for Technical Thermodynamics Dr. MSc Josef Kallo, DLR, Project leader Antares DLR H2

The goal for the research work of DLR is to develop the fuel-cell into a reliable source of auxiliary power for the commercial aviation. "This is where the fuel-cell is an important alternative to the current energy providing systems" says Prof. Dr. Hans Müller-Steinhagen, Director of the DLR Institute for Technical Thermodynamics. It combines the advantage of high efficiency with low emissions of pollutants, safe flight operations and high passenger comfort.

 

Cooperation between DLR and Lange Aviation

The high-tech flying test bed, Antares DLR-H2, which has been developed in cooperation with Lange Aviation GmbH, offers a low cost test platform for the development of fuel-cell systems in aviation. It is based upon the single seat Antares 20E, a self launching powered glider with a wingspan of 20m. The Maximum Takeoff Weight of the Antares 20E is 660 kg. For the Antares DLR-H2, the propulsive power comes from a fuel-cell system which has been provided by the DLR Institute for Technical Thermodynamics. One streamlined pod is hung under each strengthened wing. These pods house respectively fuel-cell and hydrogen tank. This system delivers electrical energy to a propulsive chain which has been developed by Lange Aviation GmbH. The propulsive chain consists of power electronics, electrical motor and propeller.

Aerodynamics Antares DLR-H2
Antares H2 with external pods: Visualization of the aerodynamic analysis

"The advantages of the fuel-cell in aviation lie in the high efficiency of the energy generation and in the low emissions", explains project leader Dr.MSc Josef Kallo of the DLR Institute for Technical Thermodynamics. "The basic process is the electrochemical oxidation of hydrogen. This process is low on noise and free of vibration, -a further plus for its utilization". The special advantage of fuel-cell systems in aviation is their multi functionality: In addition to the efficient provision of elec-trical power, an aircraft can make use of further products and other advantages of fuel-cells. One example of this is the water which is created by the electrochemical reaction. Captureing and using this water allows for a substantial reduction in the amount of water which needs to be on-board the aircraft during takeoff. Another innovation is a use of the de-hydrated fuel-cell exhaust, which is very low on oxygen. This inert gas mixture is ideal for replacing the flammable mixture of jet fuel fumes and air found in aircraft fuel tanks, thus increasing flight safety

As a technology platform, the Antares DLR-H2 optimizes the testing time in the Airbus A320 ATRA, a DLR-research-aircraft. This is because the fuel-cell system of the Antares DLR-H2 is close to identical to the system being developed for auxiliary power generation in commercial aviation.

Prime minister Guenther H. Oettinger in conversation with Prof. Georg Fundel and Axel Lange
Prime minister Günther H. Oettinger in conversation with Prof. Georg Fundel and Axel Lange

Supporting exhibition by DLR regarding the fuel-cell in aviation:

In a supporting exhibition, the DLR explains to the public the advantages of fuel-cell technology in passenger aircraft. Between October 1 and 14, the exhibition can be found on level 4 of terminal 1, Stuttgart airport.

Opening hours: Daily from 09:00 to 18:00.

Source: DLR Institute for Technical Thermodynamics

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