Propulsion Systems for Hydrogen-Powered Aircraft to be Advanced 

Airbus subsidiary Airbus UpNext has launched a new technological demonstrator, aiming to accelerate the maturation of superconducting technologies for use in the electric propulsion systems of a future hydrogen-powered aircraft.

Known as Cryoprop, the new demonstrator will integrate and mature a two megawatt-class superconducting electric propulsion system, cooled by liquid hydrogen via a helium recirculation loop. The propulsion system was developed by Airbus teams in Toulouse, France, and Ottobrunn, Germany.

Cryoprop will confirm the potential of superconducting technologies for future aircraft applications, assessing all aspects related to safety, industrialization, maintenance and operations. 

The demonstrator will also give Airbus the opportunity to develop high-level, in-house expertise. The demonstrator will foster a new ecosystem to accelerate the introduction of new products, in areas such as superconducting cables, motors, cryogenic power electronics and cryogenic cooling systems.

Airbus has been developing superconducting technologies for high-power electric propulsion for several years, culminating in the power-on of an integrated 500 kW cryogenic propulsion system last year.

Michael Augello, CEO at Airbus UpNext, commented; “Our previous demonstrators have shown that superconducting technologies would be a key enabler for the high-power electrification of future hydrogen-powered aircraft.

“I truly believe that the new demonstrator will lead to performance improvements of the propulsion system, translating into significant weight and fuel saving potential.”