Edair Technologies, a consortium partner in the PHIADI project to decarbonise air transport.
The aim of the PHIADI (Innovative, Advanced and Intelligent Hydrogen Propulsion) project, in which Edair Technologies (Edairtec) is a consortium partner alongside Gutmar and INNengine, is to decarbonise air transport using a system that combines the innovative single-stroke engine developed by INNengine with a fuel cell. The entire system is driven by the energy management system designed by Edairtec. This hybrid technology has reached TRL4 maturity, with a view to its deployment in aircraft carrying up to 19 passengers and weighing up to 8.5 tonnes (CS23).
The technology put forward by the PHIADI consortium requires a state-of-the-art energy storage and management system. The electrification of an aircraft involves the design of an isolated power microgrid that is much more complex than that of a conventionally powered aircraft. For this reason, Edairtec has developed a storage system consisting of batteries, ultracapacitors and a hydrogen fuel cell that ensures the provision of the required electrical load at all times.
The system designed by Edairtec is controlled by Intelligent Power Modules (IPMs). The modularity of the design makes PHIADI adaptable to different types of aircraft without compromising the size and/or weight of the installation. Furthermore, the technology is equipped with a multi-core controller that can operate the different modules independently, thus making the whole system reconfigurable.
The consortium has carried out numerous tests at the CTA facilities in Álava, a test bench that brings together the essential components of PHIADI as well as simulation and monitoring systems. Simulations in XPlane have made it possible to test PHIADI under real flight conditions, with results showing positive data on energy flow behaviour. Similarly, valuable data was obtained on the consumption of the INNEngine engine running on a mixture of hydrogen and petrol. Finally, the energy storage and consumption system, consisting of batteries, ultracapacitors and converters, was validated.
The project, funded by the CDTI and EU Next Generation Funds, has a budget of 1,591,345.21 euros and is scheduled to run for approximately 16 months.
Source: Edair Technologies
