Chinese hydrogen plane completes first flight

China's domestically developed hydrogen aircraft prototype has a cruising speed of 180 km/h and is less turbulent than similarly powered aircraft.

China's four-seat hydrogen aircraft prototype. Photo: China News Service

China's four-seat hydrogen-powered aircraft prototype completed its maiden flight in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, on January 29. At an altitude of 200 meters, the aircraft had acceptable vibration levels and good performance, according to test pilot Xu Xiaoben.

The aircraft is 8.2 m long and can store up to 4.5 kg of high-pressure hydrogen. The vehicle's cruise speed is about 180 km/h, and the maximum thermal efficiency of the hydrogen internal combustion engine is more than 43%. The engine power reaches 120 kW, allowing the aircraft to take off and land at most general aviation airports and meet daily operational requirements.

To prevent an explosion caused by a hydrogen leak, the Liaoning General Aviation Academy (LGAA) installed a ventilation channel to circulate air inside the hydrogen tank, helping to eliminate any leaked hydrogen. The team also developed a specialized shock absorber for the hydrogen engine, which reduces vibration by 40% compared to aircraft of similar power, significantly improving pilot comfort.

The new aircraft will be unveiled at the 2024AERO air show in Germany in April and demonstrated on the ground with propellers. It is the first hydrogen-powered general aviation aircraft independently developed by China, marking a milestone in China's pursuit of "green" aviation.

As the world increasingly focuses on clean energy and carbon emissions control in the aviation industry, hydrogen-fueled aircraft will be more popular in the future, according to Sun Xiaoping, chief engineer of LGAA. Hydrogen is a clean energy source and is highly regarded internationally. The carbon emissions from hydrogen aircraft are almost zero.

Thu Thao (According to China Daily, ECNS )

Source link: https://vnexpress.net/may-bay-hydro-trung-quoc-hoan-thanh-chuyen-bay-dau-tien-4707606.html