Liebherr focuses on air supply for hydrogen power

Liebherr-Aerospace now aims to design and qualify a safety-of-flight air supply demonstrator, which is able to withstand the integration constraints in an operational environment close to the propulsion system.

Liebherr-Aerospace is developing an air supply system for the fuel cell dedicated to the propulsion of Airbus's hydrogen-powered demonstrator aircraft.

After the first study phase, the OEM has already designed and delivered a functional air supply system demonstrator with a power of 1 MW, which is presently installed in Airbus testing facilities.

During the second study phase, currently in progress, Liebherr-Aerospace aims to design and qualify a safety-of-flight air supply demonstrator, which is able to withstand the integration constraints in an operational environment close to the propulsion system. This demonstrator will support a flight test campaign to demonstrate the performance of a fuel cell propulsion system under operational conditions by the middle of the decade.

“We are very pleased to support Airbus in this ambitious project," comments Dr. Nathalie Duquesne, Managing Director at Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse SAS. "As Liebherr’s center of excellence for air management systems, we are continuously investing in Research and Development to offer innovative technological breakthrough solutions to our customers. Our systems and components are on board the Airbus aircraft family and we are proud to say that we will also participate in this emblematic program that will contribute to transform aviation towards a sustainable future.”