CHoSe-Aviation – Conformable Hydrogen Storage for Aviation: Development of conformable hydrogen tanks for efficient integration in aircrafts
The aim of the project is to develop LH2 tanks with an innovative geometry, adapted to the installation spaces available in aircrafts, to enable volume-efficient storage of hydrogen and at the same time meet the gravimetric requirements of aviation through the use of composite materials.
Project Partners
University of the Bundeswehr, Bauhaus Luftfahrt
Duration
01.12.2023 – 30.11.2026
Funding authority
Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action of Germany (BMWK)
Motivation
A drastic reduction in aviation emissions is required to achieve the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. As a climate-neutral energy carrier, green hydrogen offers a promising alternative to fossil fuels. However, its efficient storage in airplanes requires extensive development work. The project CHoSe-Aviation is investigating conformable tanks to store hydrogen in aircrafts more volume-efficiently. By deviating the geometry of the tanks from the conventional cylindrical shape, previously unused design space in hydrogen airplanes can be used for hydrogen storage. This offers maximized storage capacity and range, while the structural weight is kept low through the use of lightweight composite materials.
Method
The Technical University of Munich, which is coordinating the project, is developing a manufacturing concept for the conformable liquid hydrogen tank in "CHoSe-Aviation". TUM is also responsible for the characterization of materials and subcomponents. The main responsibility of the Bundeswehr University Munich lies in the conceptualization and design of the tank. UniBW is also conducting tests on various materials to examine their permeation behavior and suitability for use with cryogenic hydrogen. In addition, UniBW is coordinating the tests on the technology carriers. The partner Bauhaus Luftfahrt e.V. carries out analyses at overall aircraft level, defines use cases and derives load cases for structural integration. It also applies the findings to other airplanes and carries out potential assessments and reference studies for the use of conformable tanks in airplanes.
Acknowledgement
The chair gratefully acknowledges funding from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) as part of the federal aviation research program LuFo VI-3 ("CHoSe-Aviation", funding code: 20E2204A).
Contact Persons
Nils Siemen, M.Sc.; Dr.-Ing. Swen Zaremba