Aeronautics
The SERENA project aims to develop a prototype propulsion system for a General Aviation- category aircraft based on hybrid power technologies (hydrogen-fueled cells, batteries, and super-capacitors).
SERENA contributes to the subject of fuel cells for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) applications to allow air transportation with zero emissions by small and medium-sized air taxis and unmanned aircraft. SERENA will also investigate emerging storage and energy-recovery technologies for energy reuse during flight and take-off, landing, and taxiing. The propulsion system will have a 90% lower climate impact than conventional systems.
SERENA will expand the experimental practices for new-generation aircraft at the Grottaglie Airport Test Bed, a strategic infrastructure in Southern Italy. The main innovations and benefits include: the generation of specific knowledge in the strategic high-tech sector of the hydrogen supply chain; an increase in investment; and the creation of highly qualified professionals.
ES is contributing numerical simulation to certify the energy storage and distribution system; is developing and verifying a digital twin of the propulsion system; and is developing a decision support system (DSS).
Distretto tecnologico aerospaziale | Enginsoft Spa | Novotech Srl | Università del Salento – Department of Innovation Engineering
Funded by the European Union - NextGenerationEU - Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) - M2C2.3.5
by Marco Corti | EnginSoft
Leonardo Lecce | Novotech
Futurities - Spring 2025
The aviation industry's pursuit of sustainability is accelerating the exploration of hydrogen fuel cells as a zero-emission propulsion solution. The SERENA project—driven by DTA, EnginSoft, Novotech, and UniSalento—focuses on integrating hydrogen fuel cells and batteries into general aviation, specifically for the Seagull light aircraft. A key challenge lies in safely managing hydrogen’s high flammability. To address this, the project used CFD simulations to assess the effects of a potential gas leak inside the aircraft cabin. Initial tests with natural ventilation revealed significant combustion risks within seconds. However, by implementing forced ventilation, optimizing airflow geometry, and using fast-response sensors, the team reduced hydrogen concentration to safe levels (<1%) even under continuous leak scenarios. These findings are a critical step toward enabling safe hydrogen-powered flight.
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