CQUniversity and Stralis Aircraft announced earlier this month that they had agreed to collaborate on research into hydrogen propulsion systems for aircraft.
Stralis Aircraft is developing hydrogen-electric propulsion systems in Brisbane using Beechcraft A36 Bonanza airframes as test beds.
The Regional University Industry Collaboration (RUIC) Program is supporting the project, which aims to design a heat management system for a high temperature proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (HT-PEMFC). The QLD government funds the RUIC and the CSIRO delivers the program.
Chief Technical Officer and Co-founder of Stralis Aircraft Stuart Johnstone said the collaboration is crucial to the success of Stralis’ hydrogen-electric aviation plans.
“Stralis was pleased to have secured matched-funding through the RUIC Program to work in collaboration with CQU to design a cooling system for our unique high-temperature PEM fuel cells,” Johnstone said.
“This will increase our test capability, and the findings will inform development and build of our hydrogen-electric propulsion system for aircraft, which we plan to test with a Bonanza A36 aircraft in Queensland late 2025.”
Stralis aims to fly a hydrogen-powered aircraft from Gladstone to Brisbane to demonstrate it is possible to de-carbonise aviation.
CQUniversity's Professor in Hydrogen Jonathon Love said the university was proud to be involved in such an important project.
“University research can play a vital role in supporting the ambitions of local innovation start-up companies,” Love said.
“CQUniversity is very pleased that this is being made possible through the RUIC Program so that CQUniversity’s Centre for Hydrogen and Renewable Energy can provide its expertise at Gladstone to help Stralis advance their innovative liquid hydrogen fuelled HT-PEM fuel cell electric propulsion system towards their exciting first test flight.”
Stralis is aiming to fly their Bonanza test-bed Bonnie under hydrogen-electric power before the end of the year.