Abstract
Increased flight time of multirotor drones is a key enabler for further adoption and industrial use of drones. A model for analyzing the performance of a fuel cell hybrid system for a multirotor drone is presented and applied for a case with an X8 multirotor drone with a maximum take-off mass of 25 kg. Endurance is the main performance parameter, and the model can be used to quantify the relative performance between different power sources. The model aims to determine if a specific hybrid fuel cell system is a viable option for a given multirotor drone and if it will provide better endurance than when powered by batteries. The model can also be used in system optimization and sensitivity analysis. In a case study, a fuel cell hybrid system with a 7.2 L cylinder with hydrogen at 300 bar is found to increase the flight time by 43 minutes (+76%) from the currently used LiPo-batteries. A plot identifies the energy system mass threshold for when the fuel cell hybrid system gives better endurance than batteries to be 7.3 kg. Based on current technology status, the cost of a fuel cell hybrid system is about 12 times that of LiPo-batteries.
Highlights
There is an increasing use of unmanned aircraft systems for industrial applications as cost-efficient, safe, and time-saving alternatives to traditional methods
This paper presents a model for assessing whether a fuel cell hybrid system is a viable option as a power source on a multirotor drone, and if it will provide a better performance than when powered by batteries as the primary power source
The model can be used to identify if a fuel cell hybrid system will give a better endurance than when powered by LiPobatteries
Summary
There is an increasing use of unmanned aircraft systems for industrial applications as cost-efficient, safe, and time-saving alternatives to traditional methods. One of the main restrictions for further adoption of multirotor drones is the limited endurance. The typical flight time of a multirotor drone powered by LiPo-batteries is 20–50 minutes. The effective mission time is generally low, which limits the operational range and possible area coverage. Fuel Cell Hybrid Systems (FCHS) have emerged as one viable option to extend endurance on multirotor drones. They consist of a fuel cell that provides a continuous power and a hybrid battery to handle transient loads and power peaks. Such systems can provide a higher specific energy than batteries. Compared to internal combustion engines, fuel cells offer less maintenance, no vibrations, and more silent operation
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