Australian eVTOL pioneer harnesses F1 cooling technology for long-range flight

Leading Australian long-range eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft developer AMSL Aero has partnered with Conflux Technology to use its cooling technology to enable long-range hydrogen-fuelled flights of 1,000 kilometres at speeds of up to 300km/h.

AMSL Aero, which was founded in 2017 and is headquartered at Bankstown Aerodrome in New South Wales, made the announcement this week ahead of the Avalon Air Show in Melbourne.

AMSL will use Conflux Technology’s advanced heat transfer innovation to cool the hydrogen fuel cells that power its eVTOL aircraft, Vertiia, during vertical take-off, landing, and hover operations.

Conflux, which was itself founded in 2015 by former F1 engineer Michael Fuller and is headquartered in Waurn Ponds, Victoria, is a world leading heat exchange technology company and has supplied technology across a wide array of industries including aerospace, defence, automotive, and motorsports.

Specialising in producing next generation heat exchangers that help to efficiently transfer thermal energy from one fluid to another, Conflux has already been hard at work developing three heat exchanger concepts that were aimed at minimising weight and volume while effectively managing continuous heat loads during flight.

Following the success of these initial innovations, Conflux will now optimise and manufacture a full proof-of-concept assembly to integrate into Vertiia’s hydrogen fuel cell system.

“In Vertiia, we are building a hydrogen-electric aircraft that flies record-breaking distances at Formula 1 speeds, making Conflux Technology, with its storied history of innovation in motorsport and aviation, the perfect partner for us,” said Chris Smallhorn, chairman of AMSL Aero.

“AMSL Aero is committed to Victoria for future development of Vertiia and Conflux is one Victoria’s industrial champions, making the Avalon Air Show the ideal place for us to unveil this partnership.”

Vertiia is expected to make its first flights on hydrogen-electric power later this year using Conflux Technology’s heat exchange systems.

This follows the completion of Vertiia’s first free flight in November of last year.

“Hydrogen fuel cells are shaping the future of sustainable aviation, and thermal management is critical to their performance,” said Conflux’s Fuller.

“By integrating our advanced heat exchange technology with Vertiia’s fuel cells, we’re optimising efficiency and driving the next generation of clean aviation solutions.”