Table 2.
Examples of PEM fuel cells for UAV applications.
| Specifications from manufacturers' websites and [18] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel type | Manufacturer/model | FC weight (kg) |
FC power (W) |
FC power density (W/kg) |
Application/remarks |
| Chemical hydride cartridge | Horizon Energy Systems/AEROPAK | 3.5 | 200 | 57.14 | IAI Bird Eye 650 LE UAV 10 A-21 V nominal. 600 W with LiPo batteries. Cartridge Type I: 446 Wh/kg. Type II: 607 Wh/kg. Also used in Bluebird Boomerang mini-UAV and Elbit Skylark UAV. |
|
| |||||
| Sodium borohydride | Protonex/UAV C-250 | 1.2 | 250 | 208.33 | 500 W peak power with batteries. Fuel 833 Wh/kg hydrated. Cartridge 1.8 kg, 1.5 l. |
|
| |||||
| Compressed H2 | Protonex/Spider Lion UAV (NRL) | 1.77 | 95 | 53.67 | Spider Lion Micro-UAV 2005, 3-hour flight |
|
| |||||
| Compressed H2 | Protonex/Ion Tiger UAV (NRL) | 1 | 550 | 550 | Ion Tiger UAV. 550 W FC (1 kg + 3.6 kg tank 0.5 kg H2), 26 h 1 m flight record in 2009. Powerplant total weight (including fuel and cooling) = 6 kg. Specific energy 1300 Wh/kg. 26 h endurance |
|
| |||||
| Compressed H2 | EnergyOr/EO-310-XLE | 3.95 | 310 | 78.48 | Radiant Coral Technologies demonstrator UAV 1st flight February 25, 2013. Hybrid. The weight includes auxiliary systems |
|
| |||||
| Compressed H2 | EnergyOr/EO-210-XLE | 3.65 | 250 | 68.49 | The weight includes auxiliary systems |
|
| |||||
| Compressed H2 | DLR/HyFish UAV | 3 | 1000 | 333.33 | HyFish UAV 2007. 0.5 hour flight |
|
| |||||
| Compressed H2 | UTRC/Gen1 | 1.78 | 1200 | 674.16 | Helicopter UAV (October 11, 2009). FC (675 W/kg). Powerplant (500 W/kg). Minicopter Maxi Joker. 20 m flight |
|
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| Compressed H2 | BCS/BCS500 | 6.35 | 500 | 78.74 | Georgia Tech University UAV 2006. Powerplant weight 12 kg |
|
| |||||
| Compressed H2 | Horizon Energy Systems/H-100 | 1.36 | 100 | 73.53 | Johannesburg University Piper Cub UAV |
|
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| Sodium borohydride | Protonex/ProCore VI | 0.408 | 800 | 1960.78 | Aerovironment Puma UAV 2008. Endurance 9 h |
|
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| Compressed H2 | Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies | 5 | 650 | 130 | Pterosoar micro-UAV 2008. Oklahoma State and California State Universities. 15.5 h endurance. FC 480 Wh/kg |
|
| |||||
| Liquid H2 | NASA/Sensor Technology/Aerovironment | — | — | — | Aerovironment Global Observer (GO-1). 65,000 ft alt., 7-day endurance. PL 180 kg |