• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.492-501
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• 2017

A 900 W scale direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) stack is designed and fabricated for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) applications. To meet the volume and weight requirements, metallic bipolar plates are applied to the DMFC stack for the first time wherein POS470FC was chosen as bipolar plate material. To ensure good robustness of the metallic bipolar plate based DMFC stack, finite element method based simulations are conducted using a commercial ANSYS Fluent software. The stress buildup and deformation characteristics on bipolar plates and end plates are analyzed in details. The present DMFC stack exhibits the performance of 1,130 W at 32 V and 35.3 A, clearly demonstrating that it could successfully operate for UAVs requiring around 1,000 W of power.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.47-58
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• 2014

In this research, the initial sizing of a HALE(High Altitude Long Endurance) UAV which uses solar power and hydrogen fuel cell as an alternative energy was performed. Instead of a wing box type, a glider type was chosen since it is relatively easy to get a data thanks to many researches abroad. Maximum takeoff weight is around 150Kg and the propulsion system is composed of motor, propeller, solar cell, and hydrogen fuel cell which can be recharged through electrolysis. Maximum takeoff weight was estimated as aspect ratio, wing span, wing area change while considering energy balance of required energy which is necessary for flight during the entire day and available energy which can be taken from the solar cell.

• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.311-324
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• 2015

This study presents computational analyses for low-drag aerodynamic design that are applied to modify a long-endurance UAV. EAV-2 is a test-bed for a hybrid electric power system (fuel cell and solar cell) that was developed by the Korean Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) for use in future long-endurance UAVs. The computational investigation focuses on designing a wing with a reduced drag since this is the main contributor of the aerodynamic drag. The airfoil and wing aspect ratio of the least drag are defined, the fuselage configuration is modified, and raked wingtips are implemented to further reduce the profile and induced drag of EAV-2. The results indicate that the total drag was reduced by 54% relative to EAV-1, which was a small-sized version that was previously developed. In addition, static stabilities can be achieved in the longitudinal and lateral-directional by this low-drag configuration. A long-endurance flight test of 22 hours proves that the low-drag design for EAV-2 is effective and that the average power consumption is lower than the objective cruise powerof 200 Watts.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.44 no.9
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• pp.833-841
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• 2016

The 200 W electrically powered unmanned aerial vehicle, which is studied in this research, uses solar cells, a fuel cell and batteries as the main power source simultaneously. The output of each power source performs power control for each power source by the active power control method so that an adequate capacity of the battery could be maintained while limiting the maximum output of the fuel cell. The output variation for each power source under the active power control method was identified through an integrated ground test. In addition, the effect of limiting the maximum output of the fuel cell on the output variation of the entire system was experimentally identified, and it was confirmed that the adequate maximum output value of the fuel cell for preventing the overdischarge of six series-connected, small size batteries for fuel cell systems is 150 W.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.32 no.spc3
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• pp.262-268
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• 2012

In the recent research technical solutions have been studied to integrate renewable energy into unmanned aerial vehicles to use it as the main power source. As the weight of the aerial vehicle body is essential for its performance, we consider to use light-weight solar cell technology. Furthermore fuel cells are also integrated create a highly energy-efficient aerial robot. In this paper, construction concept and software design of the tilt-rotor aerial vehicle GAORI is introduced which uses solar cells and fuel cells as power source. The future work direction and prognosis are discussed.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.32-38
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• 2014

Sufficient energy charging during a day is essential for a solar-powered long-endurance aircraft. Variations of flight path that is superior to a basic circle path are sought in this study for more efficient charging. Flight path associated with roll and pitch attitudes are investigated. It seems that the pitch angle can play more important role than the roll angle for the solar charging efficiency. Thus, more energy charging is observed when the entire flight path is tilted toward the direction of the sun.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.39 no.11
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• pp.1052-1059
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• 2011

It is conducted that power characteristic variation simulation of electric propulsion system that uses fuel cells, solar cells and a battery as power sources. Combining each power source, 400W electric propulsion system have been modeled and verified. In result, without active control logic, it is confirmed that battery's power response is faster than other power sources at starting and transient condition, fuel cell and solar cell are a major electrical power during cruise condition. After completing flight, SOC is 24.2% at the winter solstice and is 93% at the summer solstice, It is revealed that active power control for sustaining proper SOC is necessary as a securing the system safety and effective power distribution.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.95-103
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• 2024

The propulsion technology used in unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)—which represent one of the most important development directions in aviation—is significantly related to their flight performance. This review paper discusses the different types of propulsion technologies used in unmanned aerial vehicles, namely the internal combustion engine (reciprocating, rotary, and gas turbine engines), the hybrid system, and the pure electric system. In particular, this paper presents and discusses the classification, working principles, characteristics, and critical technologies of these types of propulsion systems. These findings are expected to be helpful in establishing a development framework, comprehensive views, and multiple comparisons of future UAV propulsion systems.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.296-303
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• 2015

The concentration of solute in a $NaBH_4$ solution is limited due to the low solubility of $NaBO_2$. The performance of a hydrogen generation system was evaluated using various concentrations of $NaBH_4$ solution. First, a self-hydrolysis test and a hydrogen generation test for 30 min were performed. The composition of $NaBH_4$ solution was selected to be 1 wt% NaOH + 25 wt% $NaBH_4$+74wt% $H_2O$ by considering the amount of hydrogen loss, stability of hydrogen generation, $NaBO_2$ precipitation, conversion efficiency, and the purpose of its application. A hydrogen generation system for a 200 W fuel cell was evaluated for 3 h. Although hydrogen generation rate decreased with time due to $NaBO_2$ precipitation, hydrogen was produced for 3 h (conversion efficiency: 87.4%). The energy density of the 200 W fuel cell system was 263 Wh/kg. A small unmanned aerial vehicle with this fuel cell system can achieve 1.5 times longer flight time than one flying on batteries.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.41 no.10
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• pp.788-795
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• 2013

A magnesium bipolar plate whose surface was protected by thinly deposited silver layer was investigated as an alternative to existing graphite bipolar plate of PEM fuel cells. Thin silver layer of $3{\mu}m$ was deposited on a magnesium alloy substrate by physical vapor deposition (PVD) method in an environment of $180^{\circ}C$. A number of tests were conducted on the fabricated magnesium based bipolar plates to determine their suitability for use in PEM fuel cell stacks. The test on corrosion resistance in the same pH condition as in a PEM operation demonstrated the layer protected the magnesium alloy substrate, while unprotected substrate suffered from severe corrosion. The contact resistance of the fabricated bipolar plate was less than $20m{\Omega}-cm^2$ which was superior to the conventional bipolar plates. A single cell was constructed using the fabricated bipolar plates and power output was measured. Due to the enhanced conductivity caused by low contact resistance, slight increase was observed in current density and output voltage. With low density of the magnesium substrate and ease on machining, the weight reduction of the stack of 30~40 % is possible to produce the same power output.