AERO Hydrogen & Battery Summit: Bosch Aviation Technology presents concept for ground-breaking hydrogen aircraft engine
- System and hydrogen expertise from Bosch Aviation Technology enables the development of climate-friendly propulsion systems based on proven engine designs
- High power output and reliability thanks to special Bosch components for hydrogen operation
- Hydrogen from renewable energy sources makes the engine climate-friendly and almost particle-free
Vienna – In the face of increasing social environmental awareness and targeted political initiatives such as the European Green Deal, interest in climate-friendly propulsion solutions for aviation is growing. To demonstrate the great potential offered by hydrogen in aircraft propulsion, Bosch Aviation Technology, a subsidiary of Robert Bosch AG based in Vienna, has converted a conventional aircraft engine for operation with hydrogen as part of an innovation project. The basic unit, a four-cylinder gasoline engine, comes from the Austrian manufacturer BRP-Rotax, a leader in the development and production of powertrain systems for the leisure and powersports sector.
Christian Grim, General Manager of Bosch General Aviation Technology GmbH, which has been transferring products, services, and technologies from the automotive sector to the aviation industry for over 15 years, explains:
In implementing the feasibility study, we were able to draw upon the proven performance of the Rotax 916 aircraft engine and combine this with our many years of experience in the hydrogen sector.
“Instead of developing an entirely new engine, we opted to modify an established engine design as we anticipate strong demand for this pioneering approach in future customer projects due to the time, cost, and approval advantages,”
Rapid conversion and high performance achieved on the test bench
As part of a feasibility study, the experts from Bosch successfully completed the necessary modifications for hydrogen operation on a 1.4-liter turbo engine in around four months. Thanks to their extensive development work on the engine test bench, they were able to significantly optimize the performance of the hydrogen engine. All components for the hydrogen system are based on volume-production developments from Bosch.
In its current project stage, the engine already delivers 115 kilowatts of maximum power and thus comes within around 2% of the basic gasoline engine. With a specific future development of a prototype, it will be possible to further increase the output.
As a result, the concept for future aircraft engines pursued by Bosch Aviation Technology could help to reduce carbon emissions in general aviation. The innovation project is thus in keeping with Bosch’s strategic decision to intensify cross-segment developments of future drive and propulsion systems that will maximize the environmental compatibility and minimize the emissions of tomorrow’s mobility.
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AERO Hydrogen & Battery Summit: Bosch Aviation Technology presents concept for ground-breaking hydrogen aircraft engine, source
