Universal Hydrogen has conducted a first test run with its megawatt-class fuel cell powertrain using its proprietary liquid hydrogen module to supply the fuel. The module powered the company’s iron bird ground test rig for over 100 minutes in an exercise intended to simulate the typical flight time of one of the regional airliners it aims to convert to hydrogen propulsion.
According to Universal Hydrogen’s president and chief technology officer, Mark Cousin, this is the largest fuel cell powertrain ever to run on liquid hydrogen. The iron bird unit in Mojave, California, is a functional analog of the powertrain the company has been flight testing since March 2023.
The liquid hydrogen module can contain enough fuel to power the iron bird for over three hours at full power. Two of these modules would be sufficient to allow a 70-seat ATR72 twin turboprop aircraft to fly a sector of 500 nm, with reserves for flight diversions. Universal Hydrogen is working to certify conversion kits for the ATR72 and the Dash 8 aircraft and aims to have the first aircraft in commercial service in 2026.
