Under the partnership, the firms will support GKN in developing an end-to-end hydrogen fuel system, leveraging on FSE’s aerospace capability in fuel systems, and designing fuel, air, hydraulic, and engine systems, and Fabrum’s cryogenic and fuel tank storage technology.

A ground-based demonstrator of a 2.4kW liquid hydrogen system at FSE’s facility in Bristol, UK, has been jointly designed with GKN and built by FSE, under the Innovate UK-funded Safe Flight project. The companies have said the system demonstrates the feasibility of liquid hydrogen as an aircraft fuel source.

The project has developed storage and dispensing technologies, optimised purging systems and integrated fuel tank design with distribution on aircraft, through supplying a fuel cell with gaseous hydrogen.

Coinciding with FSE’s upgrade to its existing testing facility to now offer both gaseous and liquid hydrogen testing in a commercial test environment in Bristol, the facilities hope to enable aerospace to produce and test liquid hydrogen as a fuel for flights.

Additionally, Fabrum developed a ground-based end-to-end liquid hydrogen production solution for the facility, including hydrogen conditioning, liquefaction and liquid hydrogen storage.

Ben Richardson, Commercial Director at Filton Systems Engineering, commented, “We’ve combined our world-leading aerospace expertise in fuel system and equipment design and certification with Fabrum’s unique and complementary expertise to achieve significant liquid hydrogen milestones.

“We looked globally for the best people to help us shift aviation towards a hydrogen future, and Fabrum is an ideal partner as they’re the best at what they do in the world. Together, we’ve already delivered break-through test facilities with ready access to hydrogen on-site and on-demand.”

“We see this as a vital asset to the Aerospace, and other industrial sectors, if hydrogen is going to be developed as an alternate fuel source. There is now a facility in the UK where product development can be performed safely with a continuous supply of liquid hydrogen.”

H2 View understands further upgrades to the FSE facility are planned, including combining Fabrum’s cryogenic technologies with a membrane-free electrolyser.

Dr. Ojas Mahapatra, CEO of Fabrum, said, “The successful adoption of zero-emission fuels requires both ground-based infrastructure development for liquid hydrogen provisioning at airports and aircraft that will use it.

“Point-of-use liquid hydrogen production is the most economical short to medium-term solution to enable zero emission flight. We’ve already proven our ground hydrogen fuel solutions for small and medium-scale hydrogen production. Now, with FSE, we’re taking these refuelling solutions to the aviation industry – right through to the onboard fuel cell.”