Technology
Aeronautics /
Europe
Use of hydrogen
Airbus wants to make electric propulsion possible from hydrogen
Airbus ZEROe
Image: Airbus
Rafael Ramos
3/31/2021
The European company Airbus is advancing with the concept of using electric propulsion from hydrogen.
This week the company took another step this week, presenting the ASCEND (Demonstrator of superconducting and advanced cryogenic experimental powertrain).
Tecnologia ASCEND
Infográfico
Divulgação/Airbus
The central idea is to use the cryogenic power of hydrogen to help electric propellants, since with the very low temperature achieved by using hydrogen to cool electrical systems and the use of superconducting materials that take advantage of low temperatures to decrease electrical resistance, overall efficiency is increased.
In addition to using hydrogen in the hydrolysis process for power generation, efficiency would be doubled and energy consumption would be reduced by 50%.
According to Airbus, the planes developed today need a voltage above 500V. With refrigeration at very low temperatures, the voltage can be reduced to values "u200b"u200blower than this.
ASCEND technology will be tested in late 2023 on the E-Aircraft System House prototype, which is based on an Avro and serves to test alternative propulsion technologies.
If successful, the technology should be used in existing and future propulsion systems in order to improve its performance.
Cryogenic refrigeration is already used in other applications, such as Maglev high-speed trains or in superconducting particle accelerators of the LHC type.
See more details in the video below.
Hyperlinks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
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Rafael Ramos
Aviation enthusiast from an early age, he had his first contacts with the area developing that good old habit of spending dozens of hours in front of the screens of Micrsoft Flight Simulator and other simulators. With a solid background in various technological areas, including engineering and chemistry, Rafael has rejoined aviation as editor and author of articles and materials on our portal, providing invaluable help to the dynamics and expansion of the website and the aeronautical community, bringing us the news and updates so indispensable for us to remain current in our area of operation.
   
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