CONSORTIUM

Part of the international high-tech aircraft equipment supplier group Safran, Safran Power Units is a world leader specialised in the design and manufacturing of power systems for civil and military aerospace.
Safran Group is a leading international high-technology group with three core businesses: Aerospace, Defence and Security (ongoing divestiture of Security business). Operating worldwide, Safran Group has 66,500 employees (Security included) and logged sales of 15.8 billion euros in 2016 (excluding Security). Comprising a number of companies, Safran holds, alone or in partnership, world or European leadership positions in its markets. Safran group undertakes extensive Research & Development programs to keep pace with its fast-evolving markets, including expenditures of 1.7 billion euros in 2016 (excluding Security expenditures).

Safran Power Units’s (SPU) business is organised in two product lines:

• Auxiliary Power Units (APU) and Starting Systems for aircraft, helicopters and also ground applications
• Turbojet engines for missiles and target drones.

With more than 50 years of passion and innovation, SPU has become a global reference in small robust, reliable turbines and turbojets. SPU power solutions are efficient and reliable as a result of considerable R&D investments and strategic partnerships with the world’s leading OEMs. Represented worldwide, SPU provides efficient Support and Service solutions to its customers in order to meet their expectations every day. SPU is a world leader in the field of power systems and propulsion systems and has delivered over 21,000 units.
Research and innovation are key to SPU’s strategy and have received substantial human and financial backing since their inception. To prepare for the future and offer its customers more innovative and competitive products, the company invests 7% of its annual revenue in Research & Technology along with 200 engineers and technicians.
SPU conducts or participates in numerous R&T studies designed to develop new technologies for new generations of civil and military applications. Some of the work is self- financed, while other projects are regional, national or European funding. SPU works in partnership with several different research centres: universities, laboratories and institutes, drawing on its own and Safran’s networks.
Design, manufacture and testing work range from incremental technologies on gas turbine component or complete systems (turbojets, APUs, starting systems) to ground-breaking technologies and concepts outside the field of turbomachinery (Additive Manufacturing, Augmented Reality…) and fuel cells technologies.
SPU develops Fuel Cell based technologies and components in order to address the challenge of clean energy on board and around aircraft and deliver innovative electric APU and starting systems.

SPU is involved in fuel cell system since beginning of 2000 in R&T activities, by developing different demonstrator of fuel cell systems to understand this new technology. A laboratory was created in 2001 to assembly fuel cell stack, and fuel cell system, and to test them. More than 10 000 hours of tests were accumulated on different systems.
In FLHYSAFE, SPU is both project coordinator and contributor.
As coordinator, SPU brings the knowledge on project management and aeronautical domain. As a major player on Non-Propulsive Energy, SPU will bring the overview of electrical network, and energy management.
SPU will manage all technical, administrative and financial aspects of the project (WP10) and it will ensure a timely and complete review with the FCH JU on the project’s advancement. SPU will also be supported by ARTTIC in this task, and SPU will thus be able to concentrate on the technical and scientific coordination of the WP and their contributors and ensure high quality and valuable deliverables. SPU will also lead and monitor the proper fulfilment of the dissemination and communication and dissemination activities and will ensure the long-term exploitation of results. As one of the main European power systems manufacturer SPU is particularly interested to have a wide and high-level audience for the dissemination of the project’s results.
As a project contributor, SPU will be in charge of the reactant sub-systems development and testing, the safety management, the implantation and maintenance study. Also, SPU will be involved in the system specification, architecture and validation strategy.

Yan DURANTEAU, R&T Project Manager and FLHYSAFE Coordinator

Yan is a graduate in aeronautical maintenance. After a few years in the French Air Force in aircraft and helicopter maintenance, he joined the Safran group as a test engineer on maintenance applications for the A400M and A380 programs. Then, he became a flight test Architect on flight test installation department and took over the management of this project (Architecture of all flight test installation program for Airbus). He is currently a R&T project leader for fuel cell activities in aeronautical field.

Stéphane VAILLANT, Head of R&T Department

Stéphane Vaillant is Head of R&T department and holds a PhD in material. He has been working for Safran for more than 15 years, especially on R&T innovative projects management and has been involved in Fuel Cell projects since 2013, especially on aircraft integration aspects. He has contributed at 1 patent on fuel cells systems

Marion SCOHY, Stack Designer

Marion Scohy joined the fuel cell group of Safran Power Units as stack designer after a PhD in systems for electrochemical energy conversion. Her work has been rewarded with 1 patent, 4 publications in international peer-reviewed journals and 3 presentations at international conferences. She works on both high and low temperature stack subjects, especially on membrane electrode assembly. Within FLHYSAFE, she is in charge of WP2.

Patrice BUSO, Fuel Cell Electrical Systems Manager

Patrice Buso has been working as a responsible of electrical systems within Safran Power Units for more than 20 years, for airborne systems as well as for test systems (prototypes, test cells, …). He is responsible of Fuel Cell Electrical Systems for more than 3 years and is thus in charge of the specification, the design, the supply/manufacturing and the testing of such complex systems. Within FLHYSAFE, he is WP4 leader.

Olivier CRASSOUS, Fuel Cell Control System Engineer

Olivier Crassous is Fuel Cell Control System Engineer in several entities of the Safran Group for more than 5 years. He has been working on specification, design, manufacturing and testing of several demonstrators. Within FLHYSAFE, he is the WP5 leader.

Mikaël MOREAU, R&T Group Leader for Gas Turbine Demonstrators

Mikaël Moreau is an R&T group leader for Gas Turbine Demonstrators, and also involved in some innovation projects management. He has been working with Augmented and Virtual Reality for Safran Power Units in different projects for more than 5 years.

The DLR is Germany’s national research center for aeronautics and space. Its extensive research and development work in aeronautics, space, transportation and energy is integrated into national and international cooperative ventures. With approximately 8000 people working in 33 institutes and facilities at 16 locations in Germany DLR’s research portfolio ranges from fundamental research to innovative development of the applications and products of tomorrow. Within its fields of energy related research such as power plant technology, fuel cell development and concentrating solar systems DLR is a leader in Germany and Europe.

In FLHYSAFE, two institutes of DLR will be involved:

1) The Institute of Engineering Thermodynamics at the Stuttgart research center conducts renewable energy research and technology development for efficient and environmentally clean energy conversion and utilization. Activities are oriented to basic research, laboratory and prototype development, as well as design and testing of plants for demonstration purposes with specialization in highly efficient energy conversion technologies and the accelerated market penetration of sustainable energy carriers

The Energy System Integration (ESI) Group focuses on innovative research in the field of energy storage systems and fuel cell systems for aeronautical applications. The group is actively involved in technical development of emergency power units for MEA (“more electric aircraft”) as well as deals with the propulsion systems for AEA (“all electric aircraft”). By sharing the experience between other institute departments, the ESI Group promotes the fundamental research to technology readiness level (TRL) 5-6.

2) The Institute of Flight Systems in Braunschweig is active in the topics of flight mechanics and measurement and system technology of flying systems in DLR. The department Safety Critical Systems and Systems Engineering focuses on design processes and methods, concepts and technologies for safe aircraft systems and their application in engineering projects.

In the FLHYSAFE project, DLR will be in charge of safety and reliability analysis of a fuel cell-based emergency power unit and is responsible for developing and testing the «Alpha»-version of the system followed by its full mechanical, electrical and thermal integration. In previous projects, DLR has demonstrated an extensive technical and project management competence in development and testing of fuel cell systems for aircraft applications. This experience is going to be used to complete the tasks defined in the framework of the FLHYSAFE project.

Igor SOKOLOV, Research Assistant

Dr. Igor Sokolov works in the Energy System Integration Group (DLR) in Hamburg. He is responsible for scientific and project management activities related to the integration of the PEMFC systems in aviation.

Axel BERRES, Research Assistant

Axel Berres works in the department of safety critical systems and systems engineering in Braunschweig. He deals with methods and tools for model-based system development and supports R&D projects with system engineering solutions. In the last 7 years he gained experience in systems engineering of safety critical systems in aerospace and automotive projects. For 5 years, he has been chairing the safety working group of the German INCOSE chapter. He also participates in the ongoing OMG safety standardisation for UML activity.

Christoph GENTNER, Research Assistant

Christoph Gentner joined the ESI Group in 2017. He has a vast experience in fuel cell technologies for aeronautic and marine applications. He is responsible for project management activities and for the development of simulation tools for fuel cell systems.

The University of Ulm (UULM) was founded in 1967 and is composed of four faculties focusing on natural sciences, medicine, engineering sciences, mathematics, economics and computer science. With 10.680 students it is one of the youngest public universities in Germany. Times Higher Education (THE) ranks it at position 16 among the world’s top 100 universities under the age of 50 years in 2014, making it the highest-ranked young university in Germany.

The Institute of Energy Conversion and Storage is part of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Ulm (UULM) and it is focused on the areas of power electronics, electric drives and hybrid electric drivetrain concepts. It has worked in the HY4 project in the electric propulsion system. It is already working in the field of the development of the aircraft viable fuel cell system for main propulsion and more electric aircraft in various on-going projects.

In the FLHYSAFE project, UULM will be in charge of developing a high efficient DC/DC converter for air supply and auxiliaries and also assist in the test of integrated fuel cell system and DC/DC converters for validation of the functionality.

UULM has several research activities in the field of power electronics and electrical drives. UULM has a modular test stand in the scale of 1:1 for investigating different powertrains, which is equipped with an emission measurement system. During numerous studies and co-operation projects, various hybrid structures had been tested for their efficiency and other properties such as functionality. UULM will bring their know-how in the field of power electronics and carry out the development of the DC/DC converter. It will also provide support for the test of the integrated fuel cell system.

The Spanish Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA) is a public organisation for the aeronautical and space science research and technological development, covering as well as R&D in the fields of land, naval and defence. INTA main functions include:

• The acquisition, maintenance and continuous improvement of all those application technologies in the aeronautical, space, land and naval areas.
• Conducting all types of tests to check and certify materials, components, subsystems and application systems in their fields of activity.
• Technical advice and the provision of services to official entities and agencies, as well as to industrial and technological companies.
• The acting as technological centre of the Ministry of Defence.

INTA Energy Area experience covers: the characterisation of low and medium temperature PEM fuel cell prototypes in power range up to 30 kW; design, installation and monitoring of energy systems demonstrators with fuel cells and hydrogen for aeronautical, terrestrial and maritime applications; national representation in international committees as HIA IEA; development and validation of national code & standards according to international initiatives.

INTA’s laboratories are fully equipped for testing and evaluating fuel cell and hydrogen systems. Gases supply installation up to 300b, data acquisition, regulation and control of operation parameters, together with the implementation of safety systems, allow to the laboratories to offer to the industry a service of characterization, performance, acceptance and environmental tests of fuel cell and hydrogen systems and components. In addition to measurements of fuel cell performance, the available equipment allows long time and aging testing, transitory analysis, start-up and frozen performance, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), etc.

In relation to validation tests for aircraft requirements, INTA has a wide experience in aircraft systems’ qualification, INTA’s environmental test facilities are adapted to be used with hydrogen and other hazardous agents.

In the FLHYSAFE project, INTA will be in charge of planning and execution of environmental test to demonstrate that the EPU developed will reach the TLR 6 according to its target functionality.

Fuel cell subsystem performance tests are also required to characterize and validate the optimum operation of the fuel cell system. INTA’s laboratories are fully equipped for testing and evaluating fuel cell stacks and subsystems range from one cell to 30 kW. INTA’s collaboration with regulation committees and international tests networks assures the application of test standards and harmonized EU protocols.

Analysis and evaluation of the current works and developments on aeronautical regulation on hydrogen and fuel cell use on-board; and the emergency system compliance with the current and new regulation will be also part of the INTA contribution to the project.

Maria del Pilar ARGUMOSA, Project Manager

Maria del Pilar Argumosa is an Aeronautical Engineer; she has been working on hydrogen and fuel cell in the Spanish Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA) since 2002. Main topics covered has been Fuel Cells technologies, Hydrogen production technologies, PEM, alkaline FC, Fuel Cell applications, electrolysis, Renewable Energies, Energy systems integration, fuel cell simulation.

She has participated in European projects as HYSOCIETY, HYWAYS, FIRST, FEBUSS and currently she coordinates INTA’s activities on HYCARUS. She has been the coordinator of the capacity analysis group of the Spanish Platform of hydrogen and Fuel cells for 6 years and she has participated as expert and coordinator of the modelling subtask, in the Task 18 and the Task 30 of the Hydrogen Implemented Agreement of the IEA, Nowadays she is the national representative in the executive committee of the IEA Hydrogen Implemented Agreement, besides to participate as expert in the maritime task (Task39).

She has participated in the RTO SET 173 working group, about man-portable emerging power technologies, as fuel cell expert on UAV applications.

Backward experience is in internal combustion engine tests for aerospace specification, propulsion and energy system integration and fuel cell simulation and tests.

Jesús MAELLAS BENITO, Researcher engineer

Jesús Maellas Benito is an aeronautical engineer (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid). He has been working on hydrogen and fuel cell in INTA since 1999 and actually is the head of the Energy Laboratory in Madrid. He has been involved in several national and international projects in the field of design and simulation of fuel cells and validation of testing PEMFC procedures. He has participated in European projects like HYREG, HYCARUS, etc.

Eduardo LOPEZ GONZALEZ, Researcher engineer

Eduardo López González. Ph.D. Industrial Engineer (Universidad de Sevilla). He has been working at INTA since 1990 in the area of hydrogen technology and fuel cells. He has been involved in several national and international projects, in the field of hydrogen storage, definition and validation of testing PEFC procedures, hydrogen production from renewable energies, safety aspects for hydrogen storage, etc. He has participated in European projects such as RES2H2, EIHP I, FCTESNET, STORHY, FCTESQA, SHEL, etc.

The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) is a public multidisciplinary research, development and innovation organization made of several research centres located in France active in four main areas:

• defence and security,
• nuclear energy (fission and fusion),
• technological research for industry,
• fundamental research in the physical sciences and life sciences.

CEA represents 15024 employees, 2.7 B Euros budget, 1689 patents registered or active, 1300 contracts signed with industry, 83 new companies created since 1984 in high technologies sectors, 9 research centres.

Drawing on its widely acknowledged expertise, the CEA actively participates in collaborative projects with a large number of academic and industrial partners. The CEA is established in nine centers spread throughout France. It works in partnership with many other research bodies, local authorities and universities. Within this context, the CEA is a stakeholder in a series of national alliances set up to coordinate French research in energy (ANCRE), life sciences and health (AVIESAN), digital science and technology (ALLISTENE), environmental sciences (AllEnvi) and human and social sciences (ATHENA).

CEA focuses most of its efforts in developing PEM fuel cells, in the Department of electricity and hydrogen for transport (DEHT) at CEA/LITEN. DEHT covers, among others, work of understanding, expertise and design in the field of PEMFC from the generator to the electrode. DEHT develops skills ranging from electrochemistry up to fuel cells response modelling and simulation. DEHT has experimental facilities: from single cell test bench to the fuel cell stack and system. DEHT works since 1987 in PEMFC field and has supported 20 PhD students in this field.

In the FLHYSAFE project, CEA will be in charge of:

• A part of characterisation of stack in conditions relevant to the applications,
• Post mortem characterisation
• Development of stack model to understanding phenomena occurring during ageing, especially impact of start and stop; produced a reduced model useable in system optimisation phase.

Sébastien ROSINI, Researcher-engineer

Sébastien Rosini received his PhD in Electrochemistry in 2003. After working during his PhD on the development of hydrogen sensors based on PEMFC devices, he joined IRCE LYON laboratory to work on synthesis and characterization of material for SOFC and for electro-catalytic reactors. He has joined CEA since 2005 and works currently in the Integration of Electrochemical Generators Laboratory to design and characterize PEM fuel cell stack and PEWE. During last years he participated to several French, European and Industrial projects dedicated to PEMFC.

Sylvain MERCIER, Research-Engineer

Sylvain Mercier is a research engineer specialized in power electronics. He earned his master’s degree in power electronics with honors in June 2005. He worked at STMicroelectronics for four years as an application engineer dedicated to home appliances and lighting markets. He reached CEA in 2009. He participated to develop specific power converters for battery systems and fuel cell systems.

Sylvie ESCRIBANO, Researcher-engineer

Dr. Sylvie Escribano – Ph. D in Electrochemistry since 1995. Working at CEA since 1998 in the field of PEM fuel cells as a research-engineer and project manager mainly involved in the fabrication of MEAs and their characterization. She has conducted or is currently conducting CEA activities in European projects (OPTIMERECELL, FCTESTNET, FCTESQA, CARISMA, DECODE, PREMIUN ACT, SECOND ACT…) as well as national or in-house actions dealing with fuel cell testing, MEA developments (FACTEUR 10) and degradation (DVD-AME).

Laurent GARNIER, Researcher-engineer

Laurent Garnier is a research engineer and power electronic expert. After eighteen years in the industry in R&D for specific power converters and battery chargers, he joined CEA in 2010. He has been working for seven years in the department “Electricity and Hydrogen for Transport” on batteries management systems and fuel cell systems. During this period, he has contributed to 12 patents and has presented 3 papers at the conference PCIM (Power Conversion Intelligent Motion).

Pascal SCHOTT, Researcher-engineer

Working on fuel cell modelling since 2000. He developed several models from the complete fuel cell system to the local MEA response. In particular:

• Catalyst layer modelling (thickness, platinum and Nafion distribution optimization)
• Degradation mechanisms in the MEA (Ostwald ripening and carbon corrosion)
• Stack design optimization (rib/channel and cell level CFD modelling), estimation local current distribution heterogeneities and impact on performances and degradation
• Dynamic system modelling in order to test and implement regulation strategies, and evaluate the overall efficiency over a using cycle
• System energetic design and pre-optimization (compressor/fuel cell balance, cooling circuit energetic and mass cost).

Laure GUETAZ, Researcher-engineer

PhD, Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble (specialty: Material Science) “Superalloy deformation mechanism studied by High Resolution Electron Microscopy”, (1993). Since 2005: structural and chemical analysis of nanomaterial using transmission electron microscopy advanced techniques (HRTEM, HRSTEM-HAADF, EDSX, EELS). She is LITEN representative in charge of the nanocharacterization MINATEC TEM platform. (~20 publications in peer-reviewed journals).