Next-Gen Power Unit to Be More Reliable, Clean Burning, Advanced than Current APUs

Airbus will be evaluating a hydrogen-powered Auxiliary Power Unit for large aircraft, providing a clean-burning alternative to traditional APUs.

The program will be completed under Airbus UpNext, beginning with a ground demonstrator to check the efficacy of non propulsive energy through the use of hydrogen fuel cells. Airbus engineers hope that they can build a green APU with enough output for all the usual functions, like air conditioning, onboard lighting and electric power for avionics. The project will be based out of the Airbus facilities in Spain, beginning with a testbed A330 equipped with their HyPower fuel cell system. If all goes well in ground testing, UpNext may procure a production aircraft to use as a flight demonstrator. 

Since the hydrogen APU will be a clean-sheet design in many ways, Airbus will be able to pack in a bevy of modern design features and updates to improve safety, operational reliability, and stable operation in-flight. Airbus has not clarified whether or not liquid hydrogen is in the cards any time soon, but a glance at the rough schematics appears to be built around common gaseous H2. 

“These tests will mark a new step in our decarbonisation journey and ZEROe programme through an ambitious flight demonstration that will take to the air by end 2025,” said Michael Augello, CEO of Airbus UpNext. “We want to demonstrate the operability and integration of the system, including refuelling the aircraft with hydrogen. We will demonstrate this system in realistic conditions, climbing to 25,000 ft and flying for one hour with 10kg of gaseous hydrogen on board. However, we cannot do this alone and our cooperation with the Spanish Government and external partners will be key enablers of these series of tests.”

FMI: www.airbus.com