Page 26 - EngineerIt July 2021

RESEARCH

making an essential contribution to the experience with hydrogen, and focus on the development of the virtual environment. ZAL will
transformation of aviation into a climate- also participate with its extensive know-how in the field of fuel cell technology and its digital
neutral mobility solution of the future. process mapping. As an associated project partner, Hamburg Airport will primarily contribute
The clear goal is to build up a hydrogen its experience from the operator’s perspective, for example in defining requirements for the
economy in Hamburg that will occupy a ground handling process of future LH2-powered aircraft.
leading position internationally.” “There is no alternative to the transformation of our industry for climate-neutral flying.
In the first phase of the project, With this project, we want to tackle this enormous technological challenge at an early
by the end of 2021 the partners aim stage - for the entire MRO industry as well as for us. In this way, we are actively securing
to identify the most urgent fields of the future, because we are building up know-how today for the maintenance and ground
development for closer scientific processes of tomorrow,” explained Dr Johannes Bussmann, CEO of Lufthansa Technik AG.
examination and, on this basis, to “I am therefore pleased that we have succeeded in joining forces with strong partners in
elaborate the concept for subsequent this project, and I am very grateful for the foresight of the city of Hamburg and its generous
practical testing. The practical funding for this project.”
implementation of the concept will start “The aircraft of the future are lighter, more efficient and fly with alternative propulsion
at the beginning of 2022 and will involve concepts. Hydrogen will play an important role in this. We need to learn - promptly and in
the modification of a decommissioned detail - the requirements of aircraft and maintenance of real-world operation with hydrogen
Airbus A320 aircraft. It will be equipped on the ground,” said Dr Markus Fischer, DLR Deputy Board Member Aeronautics. “In
with an LH2 infrastructure to be used the project, we are using this data and experience to develop digital models for ground
as a fully functional field laboratory at processes. These digital process twins can then be used directly in the design of future-
Lufthansa Technik’s base in Hamburg. oriented and yet practicable aircraft configurations.”
In parallel, a virtual environment is “The development of a field laboratory and a digital twin are important components
being created at DLR that will be used of Hamburg’s green aviation technology roadmap. They were developed together with
to achieve digital and highly accurate members of the Hamburg aviation cluster last year to strengthen Hamburg’s competence
mapping of the defined development in research and development in a European context,” said Roland Gerhards, CEO of
fields. The new development platform ZAL GmbH. “We thank the city of Hamburg for its support in now jointly implementing this
is to provide inspiration for the design location strategy for the development of future LH2-powered aircraft.”
process of the next generation of aircraft Michael Eggenschwiler, CEO of Hamburg Airport, said: “Climate-friendly flying
by means of parameterised and highly with hydrogen technology is only possible if the infrastructure on the ground also fits
accurate virtual models. perfectly. Close coordination is required here, and we as an airport are pleased to be
Against this background, Lufthansa able to contribute our know-how to this important project - from questions of storage
Technik will primarily contribute its great and distribution to the refuelling process on the apron. At the airport, we also rely on
operational expertise in the maintenance hydrogen as the technology of the future for our ground transport. This project offers us
and modification of commercial aircraft, the chance to identify and make the best possible use of synergy effects between
and can also incorporate customer gaseous hydrogen, such as that used for refuelling our baggage tractors, and liquid
perspective through its close contact hydrogen for aircraft refuelling.” n
with airlines around the world. DLR will
add its long-standing and cross-sector More information from www.marketing.hamburg.de/hydrogen.html

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