The University of Nottingham has launched a £5.3 million research programme to support the development, manufacture and testing of a cryogenic hydrogen-electric propulsion system.
The programme falls under the £44 million H2FlyGHT initiative led by GKN Aerospace which is looking to develop a 2MW cryogenic hydrogen-electric propulsion system, setting new standards for the future generation of larger sustainable aircraft. For its part, the University of Nottingham’s Power Electronics, Machines and Control research group will support the full motor design, scale-up and cryogenic inverter technology development which is critical to developing high-power, efficient propulsion systems.
Engineers will be delivering this research at a new hydrogen propulsion systems facility on campus which features a cryogenics lab for low temperature loops to help increase electrical system efficiencies, a system integration lab, and an altitude environmental chamber, capable of testing a megawatt fuel cell together with battery and electricity motor systems. This will be connected to a digital twinning lab for optimising design and operational performance.
According to Chris Gerada, Professor of Electrical Machines at the University of Nottingham, said: “The vision of net zero air travel is within our sights. However, to get there we must push the limits of what is technically possible.”
Gerada, who is also lead for strategic research and innovation initiatives, continued: “Thanks to our new propulsion research infrastructure on campus, industry can co-locate, research, prototype, test, automate and manufacture the new solutions they need to future-proof their business. As a result, we can accelerate the economic prosperity of the East Midlands, the home of green industries and advanced manufacturing.”
