Environmental friendly inter-city aircraft (ENFICA-FC) and preliminary analysis for 2-seat aircraft conversion into fuel cells powered innovative system

The main objective of the ENFICA-FC project (ENvironmentally Friendly Inter City Aircraft powered by Fuel Cells), funded by European Commission, is to develop and validate the use of a fuel cell based power system for propulsion of more/all electric aircraft. The following items shall be pursued: a) A fuel cell system shall be designed, built and tested in laboratory ready to be installed on board for flying; b) A high efficiency brushless electric motors and power electronics apparatus for their control shall be designed and manufactured ready to be installed on board for flying; c) high efficiency would be obtained by an optimised aerodynamic propeller design; d) A study of the flight mechanics of the new aircraft will be carried to verify the new flight performance; e) Validation of the overall high performance of an all electric aircraft by means of flight test. The fuel cell system will be installed in a light sport aircraft which will be flight and performance tested as a proof of functionality and future applicability for inter city aircraft. A selection of most suitable aircraft for conversion is presented and the light sport aircraft Rapid 200 chosen. The high efficiency two-seat existing aircraft Rapid 200, manufactured by Jihlavan Aircraft, has been selected over more than 100 light sport aircrafts after the preliminary reported evaluation based on merit index as indicated. The aircraft will be used for the conversion from internal combustion engine to an electric one. Analysis about the COTS equipments for electric propulsion system has been performed and presented. Design indication of an optimal propeller complete the identification phase that continue with the analysis of some parameters influencing the general configuration of the converted aircraft and the mission items. Preliminary consideration about the definition of storage configuration are presented and some safety issues are considered for H2-gas management. Design indications and conversion limitations conclude the reported activity.