Hydrogen storage system design: case studies for airborne application

Hydrogen represents one of the most promising alternatives to fossil fuels in reaching net-zero emissions targets. In addition, the high energetic content of hydrogen, together with the development of innovative technologies, can be exploited to design aircraft with improved performance. In the present study, the H2 vessel parametric model is described, validated, and applied to two case studies: a regional aircraft (ATR) and an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). Results show that increases in the tank gravimetric efficiency up to 30.30% can be achieved, thus leading to relevant weight saving of 207 kg, for the ATR and to a flight endurance of 73.33 hour for the UAV. Moreover, the outputs of the analysis demonstrate, from a preliminary design perspective, that the technology targets set by the main institutional organizations can be accomplished if efforts are invested in developing innovative technologies.