A component for an aircraft and an aircraft with such component. The component includes a heat source enclosed by a housing, heat exchanger, heat sink, at least one structural suspension element, and an air duct. Each structural suspension element is attached to an inner surface of the housing and supports one or more of the heat source within the housing. The heat sink is part of the housing and configured to guide air from an inside of the housing an outside of the housing. Each heat exchanger is thermally coupled to the heat source. Each heat exchanger is fluidly connected to the heat sink via an inlet line and a return line for a coolant. The air duct is configured to guide ambient air from the outside through the housing, past each of the at least one structural suspension element, and through the heat sink out of the housing.

A component for an aircraft and an aircraft with such component. The component includes a heat source enclosed by a housing, heat exchanger, heat sink, at least one structural suspension element, and an air duct. Each structural suspension element is attached to an inner surface of the housing and supports one or more of the heat source within the housing. The heat sink is part of the housing and configured to guide air from an inside of the housing an outside of the housing. Each heat exchanger is thermally coupled to the heat source. Each heat exchanger is fluidly connected to the heat sink via an inlet line and a return line for a coolant. The air duct is configured to guide ambient air from the outside through the housing, past each of the at least one structural suspension element, and through the heat sink out of the housing.

An aircraft wing including: a wingbox; a fuel tank; a fuel cell system with a fuel cell; a fuel line configured to deliver fuel from the fuel tank to the fuel cell system; a propulsion system carried by the wingbox; and an electrical power line configured to deliver electrical power from the fuel cell system to the propulsion system. The fuel tank and the fuel cell system are located inside the wingbox, and the propulsion system is located outside the wingbox.

An aircraft wing including: a wingbox; a fuel tank; a fuel cell system with a fuel cell; a fuel line configured to deliver fuel from the fuel tank to the fuel cell system; a propulsion system carried by the wingbox; and an electrical power line configured to deliver electrical power from the fuel cell system to the propulsion system. The fuel tank and the fuel cell system are located inside the wingbox, and the propulsion system is located outside the wingbox.

A solid oxide fuel cell stack for an aircraft engine includes ring-shaped fuel cell assemblies of parallel tubular oxide fuel cells circumferentially around a central axis. A first stacking manifold for each fuel cell assembly is in contact with a first side of the individual fuel cell assembly, a second stacking manifold is in contact with a second side of the individual fuel cell assembly, and a central recess for leading an engine shaft through. Each fuel cell includes a tubular anode and tubular cathode, the fuel cell assemblies stacked in an axial direction through pairs of first and second stacking manifolds contacting each other. Each first stacking manifold includes a hydrogen inlet and is connected to first ends of the anodes of the fuel cells. Each second stacking manifold includes a hydrogen and steam outlet and is connected to second ends of the anodes of the fuel cells.

A solid oxide fuel cell stack for an aircraft engine includes ring-shaped fuel cell assemblies of parallel tubular oxide fuel cells circumferentially around a central axis. A first stacking manifold for each fuel cell assembly is in contact with a first side of the individual fuel cell assembly, a second stacking manifold is in contact with a second side of the individual fuel cell assembly, and a central recess for leading an engine shaft through. Each fuel cell includes a tubular anode and tubular cathode, the fuel cell assemblies stacked in an axial direction through pairs of first and second stacking manifolds contacting each other. Each first stacking manifold includes a hydrogen inlet and is connected to first ends of the anodes of the fuel cells. Each second stacking manifold includes a hydrogen and steam outlet and is connected to second ends of the anodes of the fuel cells.

A hydrogen circulation system for use with a fuel cell stack includes a supply line for receiving hydrogen gas from a supply of hydrogen, a fuel cell for receiving hydrogen gas from the supply line, an excess hydrogen line for receiving excess hydrogen from the fuel cell, and a turbocharger coupled to the excess hydrogen line and the supply line, to receive excess hydrogen from the excess hydrogen line, compress it, and return it to the supply line, the turbocharger being powered in use by hydrogen gas from the supply line.

A method for humidifying an air supply of a fuel cell, an air supply circuit including an injection line, an intermediate line and an evacuation line. The method includes steps for recovering recycled air, in the evacuation line, and injecting recycled air into the injection line so as to mix it with ambient air from the environment. The method additionally includes increasing the ratio of recycled air in the injection line when a power setting of the cell reduces and if the power setting is lower than a predefined power threshold, and reducing the ratio of recycled air when the power setting increases and if the power setting remains lower than the predefined threshold.

A variable-geometry cooling airflow management system and method for managing the cooling of a fuel cell on an aerodynamic vehicle (such as an aircraft). The cooling management is achieved by providing a conduit having a fan, radiator, and variable-geometry openings (such as variable-geometry inlet and variable-geometry outlet) at the conduit ends. Heat from the fuel cell is transferred to a coolant, which then flows through the radiator in the conduit. Cooling airflow passes over the radiator to provide fuel cell cooling. The amount of cooling airflow over the radiator is adjusted by varying the size of the variable-geometry inlet, the variable-geometry outlet, or both. Adjustments are made based on the operational parameters of the aircraft such as airspeed and flight configuration. A fan also may be located in the conduit, a speed of which is varied by the control system based on the operational parameters of the aircraft.

A variable-geometry cooling airflow management system and method for managing the cooling of a fuel cell on an aerodynamic vehicle (such as an aircraft). The cooling management is achieved by providing a conduit having a fan, radiator, and variable-geometry openings (such as variable-geometry inlet and variable-geometry outlet) at the conduit ends. Heat from the fuel cell is transferred to a coolant, which then flows through the radiator in the conduit. Cooling airflow passes over the radiator to provide fuel cell cooling. The amount of cooling airflow over the radiator is adjusted by varying the size of the variable-geometry inlet, the variable-geometry outlet, or both. Adjustments are made based on the operational parameters of the aircraft such as airspeed and flight configuration. A fan also may be located in the conduit, a speed of which is varied by the control system based on the operational parameters of the aircraft.