Analysis of Crash Characteristics of Hydrogen Storage Structure of Hydrogen Powered UAV

In the context of green aviation, as an internationally recognized solution, hydrogen energy is lauded as the “ultimate energy source of the 21st century”, with zero emissions at the source. Developed economies with aviation industries, such as Europe and the United States, have announced hydrogen energy aviation development plans successively. The study and development of high-energy hydrogen fuel cells and hydrogen energy power systems have become some of the future aviation research focal points. As a crucial component of hydrogen energy storage and delivery, the design and development of a safe, lightweight, and efficient hydrogen storage structure have drawn increasing consideration. Using a hydrogen-powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) as the subject of this article, the crash characteristics of the UAV’s hydrogen storage structure are investigated in detail. The main research findings are summarized as follows: (1) A series of crash characteristics analyses of the hydrogen storage structure of a hydrogen-powered UAV were conducted, and the Finite Element Analysis (FEA) response of the structure under different impact angles, internal pressures, and impact speeds was obtained and analyzed. (2) When the deformation of the hydrogen storage structure exceeds 50 mm, and the strain exceeds 0.8, an initial crack will appear at this part of the hydrogen storage structure. The emergency release valve should respond immediately to release the gas inside the tank to avoid further damage. (3) Impact angle and initial internal pressure are the main factors affecting the formation of initial cracks.