Fuel-cell aircraft runs on hydrogen, emits water: Researchers

U.S. researchers have successfully tested an unmanned aircraft capable of flying on compressed hydrogen, with hopes to eventually build a similar aircraft able to manage a trans-Atlantic flight.

Scientists from the Georgia Institute of Technology claim that this aircraft is the largest to fly on a hydrogen fuel cell.

The fuel cell in the model-sized plane generates about 500 watts. That's about 1/100th the power of a hybrid car, such as a Toyota Prius.

The researchers say the power-plant in the plane - as with all fuel-cell-powered vehicles - creates an electrical current by converting hydrogen and oxygen into water.

This current creates high energy, which translates into longer endurance, the scientists say.

While fuel cells don't produce enough power for commercial passenger aircrafts, they can power smaller, slower vehicles like unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

UAVs, according to the scientists, can also track hurricanes and patrol borders.

The researchers tested the fuel-cell-powered UAVs at the Atlanta Dragway this past June.

Four flights were conducted, with the UAV traveling between 2.5 and 3.7 metres above ground, for up to a minute at a time.

The team of researchers will be continuing to test and refine the aircraft to make it more reliable, predicting that a hydrogen-powered, trans-Atlantic flight may be possible within the next five years.

The details of the project will be presented at the Society of Automotive Engineers' Power System Conference in New Orleans in November.

Photography: Fuel Cell Works

Source: Discovery Channel Reports, August 30 edition