ENERGY EFFICIENT TRANSPORT
USING HYDROGEN TO CREATE A NET ZERO FUTURE
W
hen applied to fuel cells, the greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution associated
with fossil fuels are eliminated through the implementation of clean hydrogen. The only by- products include water and heat, which allows for zero carbon emissions. Shifting from the generation of traditional energy to hydrogen provides an alternative to the reliance on non-renewable resources. Hydrogen can be sourced from water electrolysis powered by solar or wind energy, creating a sustainable system with little to no impact on the environment. Aeristech is an expert in designing and
manufacturing high-speed electric motors, inverters and oil-free compressors which can be implemented in Hydrogen Fuel Cell Systems, Industrial Compressed Air, HVAC, and e-Supercharging. Commenting on the company’s sustainability efforts, Luke Read, COO, said: “Sustainability isn’t just a tagline at Aeristech, it’s the core of our innovation. We truly believe that fuel cell technology is the answer to creating a Net Zero future. During the years I spent working as the head of research and development at Aeristech, I observed how determined our team is to develop the most perfected solutions. Now, as the COO, I make sure that the vision of our engineers is coherent, and that our vision always includes the goal of decarbonisation.”
DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT In order to enhance the sustainability of the solutions provided by Aeristech, the research and development team had to design motors and compressors demonstrating high efficiency. Minimising the use of hydrogen can only be achieved through maximising the efficiency of the prototypes, which subsequently allows for reducing the environmental impact, as well as the operating costs. The oil-free compressors patented by Aeristech offer high pressure, simultaneously maintaining low flow, making them more efficient than the traditional solutions. In the case of traditional motors, this poses
a technical challenge, as they require high- frequency inverter switching, which also drastically increases manufacturing costs. The Aeristech inverters and motors are optimised
By replacing traditional energy sources such as fossil fuels with clean hydrogen, Aeristech aims to contribute to the
decarbonisation of energy production processes. In fact with the delivery of numerous projects, the company has proven that the use of clean hydrogen can extend across various sectors – including heavy-duty vehicles, aerospace and public transport
and power-dense with a unique IP. In addition, the switching frequency is reduced by 90%, providing for high-speed, continuous high-power compressor operation, reaching 160,000rpm with rapid acceleration. This excellent technical specification of Aeristech patents has drawn the attention of investors in various sectors.
PROJECTS All Aeristech projects have a shared goal – to contribute to a more sustainable future. This includes a project that has recently been finalised. Project: Trident was a collaboration with Cummins and funded by the Advanced Propulsion Centre. For this, Aeristech was tasked with developing an electric oil-free turbo compressor for a 180kW fuel cell stack integrated with an energy recovering turbine. This involved designing a high-speed electric motor, power electronics, oil-free bearings, and control software. The aim of the project was to support the decarbonisation efforts by creating zero-carbon (fuel cell) systems for heavy-duty powertrains. Two other projects currently in progress also
involve the use of hydrogen and fuel cells. Project: H2Gear in collaboration with GKN. For this, Aeristech strives to develop a ground- breaking propulsion system for commercial aircraft, using innovative aerospace air compressor technology. The objectives are 1MW nominal (η50%, 1,5kW/kg & 0,55kW/l) fuel cell system with 1,25MW peak power coupled with a cryogenic motor (η98%, 15kW/kg & 40kW/l) and drive (η98%, 20kW/kg
28 ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS - Spring 2024
& 30kW/l). This groundbreaking technology aims to create an Electrical Propulsion Unit (EPU) designed to enhance hybrid and electric aircraft setups accommodating up to 100 passengers. Additionally, it will explore new possibilities for
retrofitting and implementing Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) in large-category transport aircraft. Aeristech is delivering edge-cutting air compressor technology with parallel compression stages and assisting in the optimisation of fuel cell efficiency. Project: HEIDI aims to apply the hydrogen systems to public transport. As a part of this collaboration, Aeristech, along with Bramble Energy, Equipmake and IAAPS, are developing a novel fuel cell/battery hybrid powertrain for the TfL buses, which involves designing and delivering a 20kW turbo-expander air compressor. Through this project, Aeristech aims to popularise the use of clean hydrogen in the British public transport and contribute to its decarbonisation. The importance of the
projects carried out by Aeristech highlight the commitment to achieving a carbon-neutral future, and most importantly the potential of hydrogen and fuel-cell technology in replacing the traditional energy generation with a sustainable one.
Aeristech
www.aeristech.co.uk
www.essmag.co.uk Luke Read, COO
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