2 | Antares H3 : development of the second generation of aircraft powered by fuel cells |
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The German Aerospace Research Center ( DLR) and the Aircraft Research company Lange Antares H3 develop an effective successor to Antares DLR – H2[1], the world’s first aircraft operated by a driver and only run fuel cell ( APC ) . Antares H3 must make decisive improvements in flight duration and scope . The project began in August 2010 and the first flight is planned for 2011 .
At a technical level, the new aircraft based on the electric motor glider Antares 20E and on the CAP aircraft Antares DLR- H2 . The fuel , hydrogen will be converted into electrical energy in a direct electrochemical reaction with oxygen from the air without combustion , producing only water. The motorized glider and fly CO2 neutral , provided that hydrogen is produced from renewable energy.
While the project partners Antares DLR – H2 were tested in 2010 in a first performance of CAP in aviation before recording a record altitude of 2558 m , H3 Antares should win strongly in performance : the developers want eventually achieve a range of 6,000 km – compared with 750 km of its precursor – and a flight time of more than 50 hours – from 5 am currently suffering from Antares DLR – H2 . Antares H3 should be able to carry 200 kg payload . The aircraft has a wingspan of 23 meters and a takeoff weight of 1.25 tonnes. Four containers outside – against two so far – located under the wings contain the CAP system and reservoirs .
The DLR institute supports the construction of the modular system of CAP and scientific evaluation , while the company Lange Research Aircraft is responsible for overall integration and operation of the aircraft. The project is supported by the Federal Ministry of Transport , Construction and Urban Development ( BMVBS ) under the National Innovation Program Hydrogen and Technology PAC .
According to Axel Lange , Director of Research Aircraft lange , “thanks to optimized flight characteristics and its easy steering , Antares H3 will work with a driver, and may at a later stage provide unmanned tasks such as monitoring the ground or remote sensing.
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[1 ] The first flight of the Antares DLR – H2 was held in July 2009 in Hamburg, before reaching during the year a record altitude of 2558 m. The CAP system mounted under the wings has a capacity of 20 kilowatts , of which only 10 kilowatts are needed for a straight flight . With a wingspan of 20 meters , a length of 7.5 m and a weight of 460 kg, the scope of the motorized glider reaches over 750 km with a maximum speed of 170 km / h.
Source:
Notice of the German Aerospace Research Center – 11/08/2010 – http://www.dlr.de/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-13/135_read-26189/
| Category: Energy | Tags: Antares DLR - H2 |