Page 18 - Energize July 2021

NEWS

Research project for the use of hydrogen in aviation starts in Hamburg

ioneering project tests maintenance and ground processes of technology and its digital process mapping. As an associated project
future aircraft generations. An Airbus A320 is to be equipped partner, Hamburg Airport will primarily contribute its experience from
Pwith hydrogen infrastructure. the operator’s perspective, for example in defining requirements for
The aerospace industry is preparing for flying with hydrogen. In the ground handling process of future LH2-powered aircraft.
Hamburg, the world’s third-largest aviation centre, a new development “There is no alternative to the transformation of our industry
platform is being launched to test the new technology from as early as towards climate-neutral flying. With this project, we want to tackle this
2022. Funded by the Hanseatic City of Hamburg, Lufthansa Technik will enormous technological challenge at an early stage - for the entire MRO
work with the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), the Centre for Applied industry as well as for us. In this way, we are actively securing the future,
Aeronautical Research (ZAL) and Hamburg Airport over the next two because we are building up know-how today for the maintenance and
years to design and test extensive maintenance and ground processes ground processes of the day after tomorrow,” explained Dr. Johannes
in handling hydrogen technology. For this purpose, an aircraft of the Bussmann, Chief Executive Officer of Lufthansa Technik AG. “I am
Airbus A320 family will be converted into a stationary laboratory at therefore pleased that we have succeeded in joining forces with strong
Lufthansa Technik’s base in Hamburg. partners in this project. And I am grateful for the foresight of the city of
Liquid hydrogen (LH2) is increasingly being more concretely Hamburg and its generous funding for this project.”
envisaged in the development departments of large aircraft “The aircraft of the future are lighter, more efficient and fly with
manufacturers as a sustainably producible fuel for future generations alternative propulsion concepts. Hydrogen will play an important role
of commercial aircraft. In order to investigate the effects of the use of in this. We need to learn - promptly and in detail - the requirements
LH2 on maintenance and ground processes at an early stage, Lufthansa on aircraft and maintenance of real-world operation with hydrogen
Technik, DLR, ZAL and Hamburg Airport are now pooling their extensive on the ground,” said Dr Markus Fischer, DLR Deputy Board Member
practical and scientific expertise. The aim is to jointly develop a Aeronautics. “In the project, we are using this data and experience
pioneering demonstrator, and to operate it from 2022. to develop digital models for ground processes. These digital process
As the world’s third largest aviation location, Hamburg is funding twins can then be used directly in the design of future-oriented and yet
the research project with the largest single item in its special program practicable aircraft configurations.”
to mitigate the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the “The development of a field laboratory and a digital twin are
aviation industry. important components of Hamburg’s Green Aviation Technology
“Hamburg is not just one of the three largest aviation clusters in Roadmap. They were developed together with the members of
the world, last year the city also developed the clear vision of becoming the Hamburg Aviation Cluster last year to strengthen Hamburg’s
a major hydrogen metropolis,” explained Michael Westhagemann, competence in research and development in a European context,” said
Senator for Economics and Innovation of Hamburg. Roland Gerhards, Chief Executive Officer of ZAL. “We thank the city
“I therefore see it as both a logical and gratifying step to combine of Hamburg for its support in now jointly implementing this location
these two core competences of Hamburg. The port, the energy sector, strategy for the development of future LH2-powered aircraft.”
industry, and the entire mobility sector are involved and are preparing Michael Eggenschwiler, the CEO of Hamburg Airport, said,
for this ground-breaking technology. With this project, we are now also “Climate-friendly flying with hydrogen technology is only possible if
making an essential contribution to the transformation of aviation into the infrastructure on the ground also fits perfectly. Close coordination
a climate-neutral mobility solution of the future. The clear goal is to is required here, and we as an airport are pleased to be able to
build up a hydrogen economy in Hamburg that will occupy a leading contribute our know-how to this important project - from questions
position internationally.” of storage and distribution to the refueling process on the apron. At
In the first phase of the project, by the end of 2021 the partners the airport, we also rely on hydrogen as the technology of the future
aim to identify the most urgent fields of development for closer for our ground transport. This project offers us the chance to identify
scientific examination and, on this basis, to elaborate the concept and make the best possible use of synergy effects between gaseous
for subsequent practical testing. The practical implementation of hydrogen, such as that used for refueling our baggage tractors, and
the concept will start at the beginning of 2022 and will involve the liquid hydrogen for aircraft refueling.”
modification of a decommissioned Airbus A320 aircraft. It will be
equipped with an LH2 infrastructure to be used as a fully functional Contact Michael Lagemann, Lufthansa Technik,
field laboratory at Lufthansa Technik’s base in Hamburg. In parallel, a michael.lagemann@lht.dlh.de
virtual environment is being created at DLR that will be used to achieve
digital and highly accurate mapping of the defined development fields.
The new development platform is to provide inspiration for the design
process of the next generation of aircraft by means of parameterized
and highly accurate virtual models.
Against this background, Lufthansa Technik will primarily contribute
its great operational expertise in the maintenance and modification of
commercial aircraft and can also incorporate the customer perspective
through its close contact with airlines around the world. DLR will
add its long-standing and cross-sector experience with hydrogen
and focus on the development of the virtual environment. ZAL will
also participate with its extensive know-how in the field of fuel cell

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