2 5
hydrogen and fuel cell
The aviation industry has set
ambitious CO2 targets for 2050.
Focus speaks to AVL’s Helmut
Iancu (Global Business Segment
Manager Fuel Cell Testing Tech-
nology) and David Diarra (R&D
Management, PL BALIS) from
DLR, the German Aerospace Cen-
ter, about the roadmap to sustain-
able flight propulsion.
focus: What does the development
roadmap look like for the next
generation of flight propulsion?
Diarra: Beside sustainable aviation
fuels, the combination of hydrogen
and fuel cells (FC) is a promising
option for small and medium range
aircraft. The feasibility of fuel cell-
based electric aircraft has been dem-
onstrated with small aircraft already.
focus: What type of electric archi-
tecture do you see as the most
promising?
Diarra: For higher power ranges
fuel cell (FC)/liquid hydrogen
(LH2) energy systems offer a higher
specific energy density than battery
systems to date. However, hybrid-
ization with a battery is inevitable
in many cases. Combining the bene-
fits of the fuel cell and the high spe-
cific power of a battery enables op-
timization of system efficiency and
weight. Such an approach can offer
advantages such as redundancy, sys-
tem stability and dynamic behavior.
focus: What will be the big chal-
lenges in transitioning to these
technologies?
Diarra: Balancing the individual
components of fuel cell-based pow-
ertrains requires new approach-
es for both testing infrastructures
and R&D processes, to make the
right engineering decisions early in
development. In the BALIS proj-
ect AVL and DLR are developing
a first of its kind testing environ-
ment to cope with future challeng-
es which address an increase of the
power density and the high de-
mands in reliability and technical/
economic efficiency of powertrains
in aviation.
Iancu: BALIS is a test environment
built to upscale fuel cell powertrains
to the megawatt range. It has sever-
al testbeds for different systems –
fuel cell, battery and electric motor.
It offers single component as well
as coupling tests by procedural or
electrical connection of the test
fields following the multi-integra-
tion test environment approach.
Diarra: In addition to that, BALIS
will be the first testing environ-
ment which implements a test field
for LH2 aviation tanks and a capa-
ble LH2 infrastructure.
focus: This sounds like a very com-
plex test field, where the seamless
integration of simulation is key.
Could this approach be used in
other industries?
Iancu: Many industries are shifting to
a simulation-centric approach. Vir-
tual prototypes and models shorten
development times and support an
agile simulation approach. At AVL
we have the expertise and solutions
to change the way new propulsion
systems are developed across indus-
tries. And with DLR as partner, we
are shaping the future of sustainable
propulsion. ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
BALIS test environment for the development of
fuel cell propulsion systems in aviation
© German Aerospace Center (DLR)
I N T E R V I E W
with David Diarra, DLR
and Helmut Iancu, AVL
What does the future of zero
emission flight propulsion look
like, and how do we get there?
Taking to
the Skies
with Fuel
Cells
Electric
motor
Battery
system
Cooling
unit
H2 tank
system
Fuel cell
system
Control
room
Power
rouling