Hydrogen fueled Helicopter

Hydrogen's power to weight ratio give hydrogen helicopters gain huge
performance advantages over their jet fueled cousins.

Consider the weight and energy of fuel for the Bell 212 Helicopter
(detailed specifications given below) The relevant numbers are;

Max Gross Weight: 5.08 MT
Empty Weight: 3.27 MT
Useful Load: 1.81 MT
Fuel Load: 0.65 MT
Aux Fuel Load: 0.53 MT
Fuel Burn Rate: 0.28 MT/hr
Carbon Rate: 0.86 MT/hr

Jet A Fuel Energy Density 42.8 GJ/MT
Hydrogen: 143.0 GJ/MT

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_density

So, the standard fuel load aboard this helicopter totals 27.82 GJ
The aux fuel load adds another 22.68 GJ

Obtaining this energy in the form of hydrogen not only eliminates the
carbon footprint of this helicopter, but also reduces fuel rate from
Fuel load: 0.65 MT ---> 0.20 MT
Aux load; 0.53 MT ---> 0.16 MT

With full fuel load, including auxiliary tank, the helecopter carries
0.63 MT useful payload. Replacing both these Jet A fuel tanks with
hydrogen increases useful payload to 1.45 MT. In fact useful payload
could be increases from 0.63 MT to 1.00 MT and the duration could be
increased to 9.6 hours, with a range of 1,248 knots!

What a helluva improvement! Great for search and rescue, with payload
to carry extra gear, passengers, etc.

The volume required to carry 0.81 MT of liquid hydrogen is 11.6 m3.
Placing two hydrogen tanks as 'blended winglets' on either side of
the fuselage above the door lne, continuing along the tail boom easily
accomodates this fuel volume without affecting any other aspect of the
aircraft. The P&W turbine engines easily burn hydrogen, and with
slight modification of burner assemblies, produced LESS nitroous oxide
than the existing engine configured to burn jet fuel.

STANDARD AIRCRAFT SPECIFICATIONS

Type: BELL 212 (UH-1N) Helicopter
Type Engines: 2 Pratt & Whitney PT6T-3 Twinpac 1800 shaft horsepower
Crew: 1 or 2 pilots and up to 13-14 Scientists/Technicians
Service Ceiling: 12,500 feet
Airspeed: Hover to 130 knots
Max. Gross Weight: 11,200 pounds (5080 kilograms)
Empty Weight: 7,200 pounds (3266 kilograms)
Useful Load: 4,000 pounds (1814 kilograms) (fuel, personnel, cargo)
Fuel Load: 1430 pounds (220 gallons) - standard fuel load
1170 pounds (180 gallons) - additional capability with the addition of
two auxiliary fuel tanks
Type Fuel: Jet A, Jet B, JP4, JP8
Fuel Burn Rate: 625 pounds/hour (~100 gallons/hour)
Range (normal): 225 Nautical miles ~2.3 hours @100 knots
Range (w/aux. fuel): 375 Nautical miles ~3.5 hours @100 knots
Dimensions (external): Main rotor span - 48 feet
Total length - 57.25 feet
Tail rotor height - 14.6 feet
Dimensions (internal): 92" L x 96" W (at widest point) x 50"H
Useable Volumes: Cabin - 220 cubic feet
Baggage Compartment - 84" L x 21" W x 21" H (aft) 27" H (forward)
Aft Baggage Compartment- 28 cubic feet up to 400 pounds
Navigation: Two GPS receivers
One Radar Altimeter
Instrument Landing System (ILS)
Two VORs with DME
Automatic Direction Finder (ADF)
Communication: One UHF Radio (225-400 Megahertz)
Two VHF Radios (117-135 Megahertz)
One HF Radio (2-30 Megahertz)
One Marine Band FM/VHF Radio (150-174 Megahertz)
Transponder with Mode C
Intercom system

Additional Equipment/Capabilities:

Cargo Hook for external loads up to 3,000 pounds
Emergency Pop-out Floats for over-water operations
Rotor brake for ship operations
Snow Skis for ice and soft sand landings
High skid gear for underslung equipment
Front crosstube belly to ground clearance- 45 inches
Rear crosstube belly to ground clearance - 41 inches
Direction-finding capability in the VHF radio range
Helicopter is transportable on cargo airplane
Dual RS232 outputs for GPS read-out of aircraft position
All communication radios are accessible from the passenger
compartment via the intercom system
Power drop for laptop computers
Internal fuel tanks for extended range
Additional customized antenna mounts for differential GPS
AC power available in various configurations (up to 150 amps)
28 Volt DC Power


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