GKN Aerospace has launched a “revolutionary” £44 million hydrogen project – H2FlyGHT.
The collaborative initiative is set to see the development of a 2MW cryogenic hydrogen-electric propulsion system. Those involved hope it will set new standards for the future generation of larger sustainable aircraft. Building on the success of the H2GEAR project, the project will see thermal management solutions introduced in a bid to enhance efficiency and performance.
H2FlyGHT wants to streamline the path to flight testing and certification, meeting customer needs and industry standards. The 2MW system will include fuel cell power generation, cryogenic power distribution, and advanced cryogenic drive systems.
Collaborators on the project are Parker Meggitt, which is collaborating on thermal management and ‘balance of plant’ for the fuel cell system, ensuring comprehensive system integration and performance; the University of Manchester, which is focusing on hyperconducting motor coil design; and the University of Nottingham, which is supporting full motor design and scale-up and cryogenic inverter technology development, something that is essential for developing high-power, efficient propulsion systems.
