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Electric vertical takeoff and landing (EVTOL) aircraft maker AMSL Aero and heat exchanger specialist Conflux Technology have shared details of a new partnership, the first phase of which saw Conflux develop hydrogen fuel cell cooling concepts for AMSL Aero’s Vertiia craft.
In a statement on Wednesday, Conflux said they had developed “three innovative heat exchanger concepts” for the hydrogen-powered version of Vertiia, designed to minimise weight and volume and reduce drag, while also managing continuous heat loads and flight ranges of up to 1,000 kilometres.
The announcement was made at the Avalon Airshow, which runs until Sunday.
Vertiia is designed to take off and land like a helicopter but fly like a fixed-wing aeroplane, and with a cruising speed of 300 kilometres an hour.
The second phase of the project is set to “optimise the design and manufacture of a full proof-of-concept assembly” for evaluation.
“Hydrogen fuel cells represent a transformative technology in Australia’s pursuit of sustainable energy solutions,” said Conflux founder and CEO Michael Fuller.
“We are proud to incorporate our heat exchange technology to enhance the efficiency and performance of Vertiia’s hydrogen fuel cells. Together, we’re advancing innovation in creating world-leading sustainable air transport.”
According to the company, its “thin-walled, patented designs deliver thermal performance and low drag” and the upcoming solution will be optimised “to provide cooling for high transient heat loads” created in VTOL, landing and hovering.
AMSL’s chairman Chris Smallhorn said, “AMSL Aero is committed to Victoria for future development of Vertiia and Conflux is one of Victoria’s industrial champions, making the Avalon Air Show the ideal place for us to unveil this partnership.”
AMSL is based at the Bankstown Aerodrome southwest of Sydney, and made news in November for its landmark achievement of free flight for the Vertiia in the Central West region of New South Wales.
At the time it shared that customers “are planning commercial flights following certification and regulatory approval planned in 2027.”
