Design of a Hydrogen Fuel Cell Powered Long-Endurance Drone for Wildfire Detection

Purpose – In this bachelor thesis, a drone is developed that will be used for early wildfire detection. The drone should also be able to be used by authorities to detect oil spills or to provide live images in the event of disasters and large-scale emergency operations. In order to keep noise and environmental pollution in the area of operation as low as possible, the drone is to be powered by hydrogen with fuel cells. --- Methodology – The calculations are based on scripts by Professor Scholz on aircraft design and Professor Sadraey on the design of unmanned aerial systems. Microsoft Excel was used to calculate the matching charts. The requirements for such a drone have been discussed with potential customers and authorities, as well as aid organizations that are already using drones. --- Findings – The results from the draft do not meet all the previously established requirements. The flight time and also the range fall far short of expectations. During the design, many assumptions had to be made that have not yet been confirmed by empirical values. --- Practical implications – The results achieved in the design make it clear that the use of hydrogen poses many challenges. It turns out that hydrogen propulsion is currently associated with high weight and short ranges and that empirical values urgently need to be gained in order to optimize the design of hydrogen-powered aircraft. --- Social implications – The draft shows a possibility that allows the use of environmentally friendly technology to protect the population. In addition, the challenges faced for the use of this technology are shown. --- Originality – This is the first time that a design has been developed with this detail using the methods for conventional transport aircraft in conjunction with the methods for unmanned aerial vehicles for a hydrogen-powered drone. The challenges and limitations of a hydrogen-powered aircraft are demonstrated for the first time.