Production of Fuel Cells for Aviation: Fields of Action for the Improvement of the Gravimetric Power Density and the Quality Assurance

Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, vol. 148

Abstract

Abstract The aviation industry is committed to reducing its impact on the climate to meet political targets (Paris Climate Agreement, Green Deal) and enhance social acceptance. In particular, the ambitious climate protection targets of Flightpath 2050 require disruptive and revolutionary propulsion concepts. The use of fuel cell systems is one of these propulsion concepts and enables near carbon-neutral operation. The fuel cell acts as an energy converter and supplies the primary electric drives so that there is potential for emission-free flying, particularly in the short and medium range. However, successful integration of the fuel cell into the aircraft's power train requires a significant increase in gravimetric power density compared to the status quo. In addition, the fuel cell and the entire process chain for its production must fulfill the high safety requirements of aviation. This paper briefly describes the process chain to produce a fuel cell stack, focusing in particular on the key component, the bipolar plate (BPP), and highlighting the requirements and quality characteristics specific to each process step. Based on this, the fields of action of the production technology for the achievement of a high gravimetric power density and a quality assurance that fulfills the standards of the aviation industry are derived. Examples for the realization of the fields of action are given based on the process step of forming.

Authors 7

1. Rainer Horstkotte Aachen Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT Technology Transfer Turbomachinery

   Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT

   Affiliation as printed

   Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT

   Technology Transfer Turbomachinery, Fraunhofer-Institute for Production Technology IPT , Steinbachstrasse 17 , Aachen 52074, Germany

   Fraunhofer-Institute for Production Technology IPT, Steinbachstrasse 17, 52074 Aachen, Germany

2. Sascha Gierlings Aachen Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT Business Division Aerospace

   Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT

   Affiliation as printed

   Business Division Aerospace, Fraunhofer-Institute for Production Technology IPT , Steinbachstrasse 17 , Aachen 52074, Germany

   Fraunhofer-Institute for Production Technology IPT, Steinbachstrasse 17, 52074 Aachen, Germany

3. Jan Sommer Aachen Department of Forming Technology MTI – Manufacturing Technology Institute

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Forming Technology, MTI – Manufacturing Technology Institute of RWTH Aachen University , Campus-Boulevard 30 , Aachen 52074, Germany

   MTI - Manufacturing Technology Institute of RWTH Aachen University, Campus-Boulevard 30, 52074 Aachen

4. Max Meerkamp Aachen Department of Forming Technology MTI – Manufacturing Technology Institute

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Forming Technology, MTI – Manufacturing Technology Institute of RWTH Aachen University , Campus-Boulevard 30 , Aachen 52074, Germany

   MTI - Manufacturing Technology Institute of RWTH Aachen University, Campus-Boulevard 30, 52074 Aachen

5. Lars Uhlmann Aachen Department of Forming Technology MTI – Manufacturing Technology Institute

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Forming Technology, MTI – Manufacturing Technology Institute of RWTH Aachen University , Campus-Boulevard 30 , Aachen 52074, Germany

   MTI - Manufacturing Technology Institute of RWTH Aachen University, Campus-Boulevard 30, 52074 Aachen

6. Tim Herrig Aachen Department of Forming Technology MTI – Manufacturing Technology Institute

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Forming Technology, MTI – Manufacturing Technology Institute of RWTH Aachen University , Campus-Boulevard 30 , Aachen 52074, Germany

   MTI - Manufacturing Technology Institute of RWTH Aachen University, Campus-Boulevard 30, 52074 Aachen

7. Thomas Bergs Aachen MTI – Manufacturing Technology Institute

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   MTI – Manufacturing Technology Institute of RWTH Aachen University , Campus-Boulevard 30 , Aachen 52074, Germany

   MTI - Manufacturing Technology Institute of RWTH Aachen University, Campus-Boulevard 30, 52074 Aachen