Electrically Powered Fan Units For Hydrogen Fueled Aircraft And System Using Same
DRIVE
March 19, 2026
A thrust unit for an aircraft with a hydrogen fuel system. The aircraft may utilize compressors to compress air to a sufficiently high pressure for the fuel cell. Liquid hydrogen is compressed and then utilized in heat exchangers to cool the compressed air, maintaining the air at a temperature low enough for the fuel cell. The thrust unit may be an electrically powered fan unit with a fan within a fan tube. The fan tube may include air inlets for the fuel cell system, as well as outlets for exhaust from the fuel cell system. The fan tube may contain heat exchangers which are part of the fuel cell thermodynamic system.
Discussion in the ATmosphere