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FlyH2 Concept Aircraft Powered by Hydrogen and Electric Batteries

Welcome to flyH2 Aerospace

Check out our picture slideshow at: http://sites.google.com/a/flyh2.com/flyh2/

Company Overview

FlyH2 Aerospace CC is based in Cape Town, South Africa. It was formed by Mark van Wyk in 2007 as a means to promote and further develop hydrogen as a replacement for fossil fuels, particularly in general aviation.

Aviation now accounts for over 5% of global carbon emissions attributed to global warming. Commercial airliners typically emit over a ton of carbon dioxide per passenger on long-haul flights. We have solved this problem by designing a complete electrically driven 2 seat aircraft. The aircraft is driven by a 75kW brushless electric motor and energized by a combination of high energy-density batteries and a hydrogen fuel cell system.

Hydrogen fuel cell, battery and electric motor technology have now advanced to a level where electric flight is a reality. Hydrogen-based electric drive systems offers several advantages over typical ICE (internal combustion engine) based systems. During flight, hydrogen is bonded with oxygen to produce water and electricity. The electricity is used to drive a silent electric motor and propeller. The only exhaust is a small amount of water vapour. The drive system has only one moving part, the prop-shaft, offering low maintenance benefits, high reliability and longer engine life. Hydrogen is easily manufactured on the ground through a simple process of electrolysis. To keep the fuel production cycle environmentally friendly, an electrolysis machine can generate hydrogen on site. This process can be powered by solar energy when the sun is shining and by wind energy when the wind is blowing.

As part of our research, we are currently developing and testing a fuel cell using local materials as far as possible. The knowledge gained from the experiment will be used to build a compact and lightweight 500-watt fuel cell system designed to power a small 3-metre wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Practically demonstrating a flying prototype will prove our skills and competencies in designing and building practical general aviation electric aircraft. We are looking to for additional sponsors and angel investors to further fund this phase of the project.

The CSIR (Counsel for Scientific and Industrial Research) in South Africa is currently researching fuel cell materials and methods for cryogenic gaseous hydrogen storage. We are engaged with them in discussions on how our organisations can work together to develop powerful lightweight fuel cell systems for use in our application. We are looking to the governments National Research Foundation to fund the development of the fuel cells, UAV's, electrolysers, related systems and airframes.

Once we have refined the aircrafts design and proven it's reliability, we will commercialise the project and sell a limited number of aircraft to the public. At a second commercialisation phase, FlyH2 will work with local and international aviation industries to further develop hydrogen powered commercial aircraft.

As a spin off, flyH2 Aerospace has decided to also design, manucature and integrate hydrogen fuel cells and hydrogen systems. We're also developing hydrogen-powered UAV's for commercial markets. Our current UAV in development, FH2 UAV Alpha will be capable of staying airborne for over an hour.

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Breaking News

TravelLab Technologies Sponsors Fuel Cell

With special thanks to our sponsor, TravelLab Technologies (Travelstart.co.za's technology parter), we're now a lot closer to the maiden flight of our first UAV, FlyH2 UAV Alpha. TravelLab sponsored most of the development of a 500-watt hydrogen fuel cell that will power the UAV, to the value of R 50 000.

The fuel cell was custom built to specifications by Horizon Fuel Cell in China and was shipped off to South Africa yesterday. The fuel cell will provide 500 watts of electricity to the electric motor and propellor - enough to lift South Africa's first hydogen powered aircraft off the ground.

This small unmanned prototype will act as a demonstration of the feasibility of using hydrogen as an aviation fuel. When complete, we will start development of a 2 seater manned aircraft that runs on hydrogen, based on the DynAero MCR01 airframe. We wish to manufacture the first commercially available hydrogen powered aircraft in the world.

Fuel cells emit only heat and water as an exhaust making them a fantastic enviromental choice. The hydrogen to power the UAV will eventually be generared from wind, sunlight and water.

Once again, special thanks to our new primary sponsor, TravelLab:

UAV Development

Wa are in process of developing a 500W hydrogen powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) called FlyH2 UAV Alpha. It features a 4 metre wing span and will be capable of staying airborne for over 60 minutes at an average speed of 60 km/h. The custom designed 500-watt fuel cell has just been completed in China and is on it's way to South Africa.

FlyH2 Aerospace UAV Alpha Artists Impression

Artists impression of FlyH2 UAV Alpha on the ground.

FlyH2 Aerospace UAV Alpha Artists Impression

Artists impression of FlyH2 UAV Alpha flying over Cape Point.

Fuel Cell Development

It is the vision of FlyH2 Aerospace to build 100% home-grown fuel cells in South Africa, and development in this area is going well. So far, our designs have proved successfull in both single-cell and multi-cell-stack fuel cell configuration. Both test systems were able to drive a small propellor for an indefinate period, fuelled by home-made hydrogen alone. The hydrogen was produced by reversing a fuel cell and powering it with solar electricity.

The 4-cell fuel cell stack (shown here disassembled) produced a maximun consistant voltage of 2.2V (0.55V per cell). The snake patterns guide the hydrogen over the electrode assembly where it is bonded with oxygen in the atmosphere to create water and electrcity.

Single Cell Stack

The fuel cell single cell configuration. Here the stack is shown generating enough current to driving a propeller as will happen in the UAV.

Here is our 4-cell stack in operation. Unfortunately, due to a hydrogen leak, we lost over 55% efficiency. We're in the process of designing a properly sealed fuel cell.

General Aviation Aircraft Development

We're designing what we hope to be the first commercially sold hydrogen powered general aviation aircraft. Our prototype will run purely on hydrogen, and oxygen from the atmosphere. During take-off and climb it will be assisted by light-weight, high-power batteries. The hydrogen fuel cells will then recharge the batteries during the cruise.