Ricardo24 May 2021 13:47
Engineering consultancy Ricardo in the coming weeks hopes to select the fuel cell developer that will provide the power source for the electric conversion of a Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander it is working on as part of Project Fresson.
Led by Cranfield Aerospace Solutions (CAeS), the initiative, which is part funded by the UK government, aims to perform a first flight in late 2022, leading to the start of commercial operations by 2024.
Source: Cranfield Aerospace Solutions
Fuel cell systems will be installed inside Islander’s nacelles
While various suppliers to the project are already signed up, a recent switch from hybrid-electric to hydrogen power – which saw Ricardo brought on board – has meant that a fuel cell supplier has yet to be selected.
Ricardo is bringing together the fuel cell stacks and the required balance of plant – the pumps, valves, injectors, blowers, compressors, cooling systems and other equipment required for the cells to function – plus the management and control of the overall system.
But it has “engaged with multiple fuel cell stack suppliers” and is in a “down-selection process” and “approaching final nomination”, Andy Ennever, hydrogen fuel cells system service leader at Ricardo, said during a 19 May webinar.
As part of the overall design, the fuel cell stacks, balance of plant and the electric motors they power must fit inside the Islander’s existing nacelles.