Aviation's hydrogen shift: Exploring test and validation for hydrogen propulsion

Asourclimateworsens, decarbonisation becomes an increasingly pressing imperative for aircraft, manufacturers. Coventry University and engineering services company FEV co-created the Centre for Advanced Low-Carbon Systems to develop the varied propulsion technologies this endeavour demands.

"We have five propulsion test cells, initially designed to test combustion engines and upgraded to support other low-carbon powertrains," says C-ALPS director, Dr Simon Shepherd. "Each has gasoline, diesel and hydrogen fuel supply and battery emulation capability. Dynamometers provide mechanical load, or we can power an electric drive test bench. The cells have water coolant and air extraction for fumes or leaked hydrogen."

FEV (Forschungsgesellschaft für Energietechnik und Verbrennungsmotoren) primarily use these test cells for contract powertrain testing, while specialised laboratories accommodate fundamental component and subsystem research. There are laboratories for high and lowvoltage electronics, hydrogen testing and cell prototyping. "We do battery characterisation and research into diagnostic techniques," says Shepherd. "We want to understand the levers that improve battery performance, whether through faster charging or improved lifetime, energydensity or power density."