PEM Fuel cell system was designed and constructed to use as a power source of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in the present study. Sodium borohydride was selected as a hydrogen source and was decomposed by catalytic hydrolysis reaction. Fuel cell system consists of a fuel cell stack, a hydrogen generation system (HGS), and power management system (PMS). HGS was composed of a catalytic reactor, micropump, fuel cartridge, and separator. Hybrid power system between lithium-polymer battery and fuel cell was developed. The fuel cell system was integrated and packaged into a blended wing-body UAV. Energy density of the total system was 1,000 W?hr/kg and high endurance more than 5hours was accomplished in the ground tests.

Taegyu Kim

Papers

Fuel Cell Powered UAV with NaBH4 as a Hydrogen Source