Utvärdering av ett Bränslecellsdrivet Flygplan.
With the increases in fuel costs due to the depletion of the world oil reserves and the increase of greenhouse gasses as a consequence to using oil as a fuel many companies are looking to new and innovative ways to power their aircraft. One of these new ways to power an aircraft is using fuel cells powered using hydrogen and oxygen, thus producing nothing but water vapour and small amounts of nitrogen dioxide as well as trace amounts of other emissions. Both Boeing (1) and Politecnico di Torino (2) have shown that it is possible to build an all-electric aircraft powered by fuel cells. Both flights used small, two-seater aircraft and a constant between them was the loss of the co-pilot seat due to weight and lack of space. As this paper will deal with a commercial aircraft a primary concern is the cargo and passenger capacity and whatever impact switching propulsion system has on these. The aircraft used to test the feasibility of these fuel-cells is the SAAB 340 passenger aircraft/airliner chosen for its twin-engine turboprop configuration and generally conventional design. Its engines and fuel tanks were removed and electrical motors, fuel cells and hydrogen tanks were installed, all the while taking care not to move its centre of gravity too much. Based upon the calculations performed the new aircraft appears to be airworthy though it has a very low rate of climb and because of this an extremely short range. The vehicles passenger and cargo carrying capacity has been severely diminished due to the weight and size of the new components. Other parameters have also decreased, such as speeds and power outputs from the motors. Despite performance reductions the aircraft seem to be able to fulfil the demands placed upon it though carrying capacity appears to be severely diminished.