APACHE: Integrated Hybrid Fuel Cell System for 2-Seat All Electric Aircraft Propulsion

International audience; The French APACHE project aims at demonstrating the feasibility of using a Hybrid Fuel Cell System (HFCS) as the power generator for all electric 2-seat aircrafts. This study focuses on three main topics: airworthiness of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC), their hybridization with Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) batteries and systems' integration into light aircrafts. Altitude and inclination tests have been led and allow to conclude on the ability of PEMFC to operate in aeronautical conditions. A comparison of aerobic and anaerobic fuel cells is realised and reveals the superiority of anaerobic fuel cells for high altitude applications. Innovative architectures of hybridization are proposed and tested numerically and experimentally. Finally, examples of integration to two light aircrafts of a HFCS composed of an anaerobic FC, hydrogen and oxygen storages and a Li-Ion battery pack are presented.