COMBINING A PROTON EXCHANGE MEMBRANE FUEL CELL AND ULTRACAPACITORS TO REPLACE BATTERIES AND EXTEND FLIGHT TIME FOR A VERTICAL TAKE-OFF UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEM (UAS)
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Authors
Laddusaw, Justin A.
Subjects
fuel cell
ultracapacitor
unmanned aerial system
hybrid powertrain
ultracapacitor
unmanned aerial system
hybrid powertrain
Advisors
Yakimenko, Oleg A.
Pollman, Anthony G.
Date of Issue
2019-12
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
This research investigated the combination of a fuel cell and ultracapacitors to create a hybrid powertrain for a vertical take-off unmanned aerial system (UAS). This replaced the more common battery-only powertrain or the hybrid fuel cell-battery powertrain. A secondary power source, such as a battery or ultracapacitors, is required to assist a fuel cell with immediate load requests because a fuel cell was unable to supply instantaneous power. The fuel cell-ultracapacitor was tested using a power profile that was experimentally determined using a battery-powered vertical take-off UAS during take-off, hover, and landing. This tabletop experiment is meant to lead to a more refined solution that can be easily scaled to fit into a smaller future vertical take-off UAS. The fuel cell-ultracapacitor powertrain was able to meet the power requirements while also supplying power to the fuel cell itself, without an external power supply. Future work opportunities include scaling for implementation into a UAS platform and coding the power management software to optimally manage the proposed hybrid powertrain.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE)
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NPS Report Number
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Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.