OVERLEAF

nOVel low-prEssure cRyogenic Liquid hydrogEn storAge For aviation

Coordinator :  

ACITURRI ENGINEERING SL

Duration : 

3 years

Launch date : 

May 2022

Budget : 

€6 million

Goal

The aim of the OVERLEAF project is 1) to improve the thermal performance of the storage tank, 2) to minimise the pressure inside the inner and outer shells and 3) to significantly reduce hydrogen leaks during operation.

Thanks to the low operating pressures that will be achieved in the system, it will be possible to propose new composite material solutions and advanced automated manufacturing processes. This will considerably reduce the weight of the system as a whole and improve the flexibility and robustness of the tank design.

 

As part of the OVERLEAF project, CANOE’s activities will involve developing a new generation of composite liquid hydrogen storage tanks based on thermoplastic polymer materials and innovative manufacturing processes.

OVERLEAF

Reducing direct global CO2 emissions from air transport is a major environmental challenge. According to forecasts, aviation will be responsible for 24% of global emissions by 2050. The aeronautics industry therefore aims to find alternative solutions to alleviate this problem, notably through the development of new propulsion technologies with low CO2 emissions and/or new fuels, such as hydrogen.

Hydrogen has been identified as a clean fuel that can help combat climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, it is currently impossible for aircraft to run on hydrogen due to the lack of viable hydrogen storage systems on board aircraft, given the strict limitations in terms of weight, volume and cost-effectiveness.

 

The EU-funded OVERLEAF project, involving a consortium of 10 partners from 6 different countries, aims to remedy this situation by developing an innovative low-pressure liquid hydrogen (LPH) storage tank, combining functional and high-performance materials, thermal insulation materials and new hydrogen leak detection sensors.

Partners