Electric aircraft will be propelled by fuel cell technology.
New Sodium-Powered Fuel Cells Could Revolutionize Electric Planes
Modern batteries are currently the primary power source for electric flights, but they are limited in their energy density and thus cannot sustain long-distance flights. A team of researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is working on a solution: a sodium-powered fuel cell. This innovative technology promises climate-friendly power for longer-duration flights, with an additional advantage of reducing carbon emissions.
The new fuel cell operates on liquid sodium and has a significantly higher energy density than lithium-ion batteries, today's standard for electric vehicles. The researchers published their discovery in the journal "Joule". Professor Yet-Ming Chiang, a co-author, admitted the idea may initially seem far-fetched, but he believes it could lead to a breakthrough in aviation electrification.
Sodium is potentially an excellent choice for fuel cells due to its high energy density and abundant availability. Unlike traditional batteries, the fuel cell operates like a hybrid between a battery and a fuel cell. It is refueled with liquid sodium and uses ordinary air for its oxygen source, with a solid ceramic material acting as an electrolyte.
Experiments with the prototype showed the sodium-air fuel cell possesses an energy density of over 1000 watt-hours per kilogram, surpassing the maximum energy density of today's lithium-ion batteries. However, this system would be suitable for only regional flights, not transcontinental or transatlantic journeys.
An additional advantage of using sodium as fuel is that it produces sodium oxide as exhaust gas. If emitted, this exhaust would combine with CO2 in the atmosphere to form soda, thus helping remove harmful greenhouse gases. Moreover, sodium hydroxide, a byproduct of the reaction, could contribute to mitigating the alkalization of seawater caused by greenhouse gases if it ends up in the sea.
According to the researchers, the new fuel cell is relatively safe, as sodium is extremely reactive and needs protection. However, the presence of only air, which is diluted, reduces the risk of runaway fires. The primary raw material, sodium, is extracted from table salt and is abundant and easy to obtain.
The researchers intend to develop a larger version of the fuel cell for practical applications, with potential power outputs comparable to a large drone. They expect the first flying prototype within the next year.
Source: ntv.de, kst
- Aerospace
- Electric Mobility
- Innovations
The new sodium-powered fuel cell in development, as part of the community policy on energy and energy policy, is expected to revolutionize electric planes by providing a more climate-friendly and higher energy density power source for longer-duration flights, potentially leading to a breakthrough in aviation electrification. The advancement in technology and science associated with this fuel cell could also contribute to the mitigation of harmful greenhouse gases via the byproduct sodium oxide and the reduction of seawater alkalization through sodium hydroxide.
