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This document defines the technical guidelines for the safe integration, operation and maintenance, and for certification of Liquid Hydrogen Storage Systems (LHSS) in aircraft. This document also defines guidelines for safe refuelling operation of hydrogen for aircraft. This document does not address airport infrastructure, nor how the refuelling means is specified, except the provisions required for the safety of the aircraft refuelling operation.

This document defines the technical guidelines for the safe integration, operation and maintenance, and for certification of Gaseous Hydrogen Storage Systems (GHSS) in general aviation. This document also defines guidelines for safe refuelling operation of gaseous hydrogen for aircraft. This document does not address airport infrastructure, nor how the refuelling means is specified, except the provisions required for the safety of the aircraft refuelling operation.

The scope of this new standard is the usage of hydrogen PEM fuel cells for generation of electrical power for the propulsion systems and for the airplane electrical systems that distributes for critical systems (primary power) such as flight controls, hydraulic, pneumatic and avionic. The standard shall cover all equipment, subsystems and installation, aspects that allow the hydrogen PEM fuel cell system to perform its intended function, such as energy buffering elements (batteries, supercaps, flying-wheels, etc), thermal management systems, flammable and fire zoning, drainage, vent, inerting, etc. Aspects associated with maintenance are also part of the scope. The Standard shall provide also an acceptable means for the certification of the hydrogen PEM fuel cell system in the intended context of usage, including aspects of calculations, simulations, analysis, lab, ground and flight testing as applicable.

The scope of this joint EUROCAE/SAE report is to compile the considerations relating to airborne application of hydrogen fuel cells. This document provides a comprehensive analysis of the use of hydrogen as a fuel by describing its existing applications and the experience gained by exploiting fuel cells in sectors other than aviation. The use of hydrogen fuel cells in aircraft can help in meeting aviation environmental targets (including noise pollution) and can be vital to achieving efficient electrically propelled air vehicles. The experience gained with mature fuel cells in terrestrial applications and the handling of other gases in aviation, as presented herein, will help in alleviating safety concerns and in demystifying the usage of hydrogen in aviation.

This is a joint SAE/EUROCAE development. This document will be released as both an SAE Aerospace Specification (AS) and a EUROCAE Minimum Aviation System Performance Standard (MASPS). This document defines the technical requirements for the safe integration of gaseous hydrogen fueled Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cell Systems (FCS) within the aircraft. Most of the technical concepts and approaches covered by this document represent current industry "best practice". Others require specific approval from the procuring activity before use. This requirement for approval is not intended to prohibit their use; but rather to ensure that the prime contractor has fully investigated their capability to perform reliably and to be sufficiently durable under the required conditions and that the prime contractor can present substantiating evidence for approval before the design is committed to.

This document defines the technical guidelines for the safe integration of Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cell Systems (FCS), fuel (considered to be liquid and compressed hydrogen storage types only), fuel storage, fuel distribution and appropriate electrical systems into the aircraft. Editorial Note: Today PEM systems and fuel storage represent the most mature FCS technology and currently forms the basis for this standard. Other types of fuel cell systems and fuels (including reforming technologies and electrolyzers), may be covered by a further update to this document.