Liquid hydrogen aircraft

Abstract

Disclosed is an aircraft, configured to have a wide range of flight speeds, consuming low levels of power for an extended period of time, while supporting a communications platform with an unobstructed downward-looking view. The aircraft includes an extendable slat at the leading edge of the wing, and a reflexed trailing edge. The aircraft comprises a flying wing extending laterally between two ends and a center point. The wing is swept and has a relatively constant chord. The aircraft also includes a power module configured to provide power via a fuel cell. The fuel cell stores liquid hydrogen as fuel, but uses gaseous hydrogen in the fuel cell. A fuel tank heater is used to control the boil-rate of the fuel in the fuel tank. The aircraft of the invention includes a support structure including a plurality of supports, where the supports form a tetrahedron that affixes to the wing.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method of supplying a gaseous reactant to a fuel cell at a desired operating-rate of flux, comprising: 
 providing the reactant in liquid form in a tank configured for containing the liquid form of the reactant, wherein the tank includes a heat source for increasing a boiling-rate of the reactant, and wherein the tank is configured to supply the reactant to the fuel cell at a rate determined by the boiling-rate of the reactant; and    triggering the heat source to supply heat to increase the boiling rate of the reactant to a level appropriate to supply the resulting gaseous reactant to the fuel cell at substantially the operating-rate of flux.