Lennart Kösters

My name is Lennart Kösters, and I am working at the Institute of Internal Combustion Engines and Fuel Cells at TU Braunschweig as a research associate. My research focuses on fuel cells in aviation and phenomena that might lead to a rapid power loss over time. This is of tremendous importance, as aviation poses a uniquely challenging environment for fuel cells. Given that safety is a major concern in aviation, predicting fuel cell degradation must be accurate far into the future.

Within this project, I aim to identify damaging phenomena unique to aviation and quantify their impact on the fuel cell lifetime through experiments. Additionally, I apply machine learning to predict the remaining useful lifetime of the fuel cell stack and components. This will enable optimized operation and maintenance to increase the lifetime and safety of future fuel cells aboard aircraft.

It is fascinating to work on a research question where so little preliminary work has been done. I am simultaneously excited and anxious to see the outcomes of my experiments on the fuel cells and understand the implications for fuel cells in aviation.

Currently, there are no fuel cell-powered large passenger aircraft, so no data and experience exist on how fuel cells age or completely fail in such circumstances. From a safety point of view, this is unacceptable. With my research, I contribute to a future of aviation that is not only sustainable but also safe.

Being part of the interdisciplinary research network SE²A allows me to discuss my ideas with various experts from different backgrounds. This provides a holistic view of my research topic as one brushstroke in the bigger picture of sustainable aviation.