Hydrogen aviation systems
Aircraft concepts, fuel cell propulsion, hydrogen storage, system integration, and mission studies.
ASCENT Lab · United Arab Emirates University
Dr. Khaled AlSamri
Building practical paths for cleaner flight.
I research hydrogen aviation and fuel cell systems, advise on clean technology, and build ventures that turn good ideas into useful tools.
Assistant ProfessorUAE University
ASCENT LabHydrogen aviation
Founder
Dr. Khaled AlSamriEngineer · Researcher · Founder
Research and collaboration
ASCENT Lab
UC Irvine
UAE University
AIAA Forums
Journal of Aircraft
Journal of Propulsion & Power
Energy Conversion & Management
About
I like turning complex engineering into clear decisions
I am a mechanical and aerospace engineer focused on hydrogen aviation, fuel cells, and clean energy systems. At ASCENT Lab, I study how cleaner aircraft can work in the real world, from propulsion and storage to infrastructure and cost.
I earned my PhD from UC Irvine and now serve as an assistant professor at United Arab Emirates University. Alongside research, I advise organizations and build practical clean technology ventures.
- Technical review and due diligence
- Government & industry collaboration
- Research programs and grant strategy
- Aircraft and UAV mission studies
What I do
From engineering questions to practical action
Techno economic analysis
Clear analysis of cost, infrastructure, environmental impact, and commercial feasibility.
Fuel cells and experiments
Fuel cell systems, test stand planning, controls, data collection, and experimental design.
Clean technology ventures
Turning technical ideas into useful products through market testing, partnerships, and thoughtful execution.
Advisory
Clear thinking for difficult technical decisions
I help teams understand what is possible, what is realistic, and what to test next.
Aviation systems
- Hydrogen aviation feasibility
- Fuel cell aircraft concepts
- Aircraft and UAV mission studies
- Fuel cell system integration
Economics and infrastructure
- Techno economic modeling
- Clean hydrogen supply chains
- Airport hydrogen infrastructure
- Technical vendor evaluation
Ventures and growth
- Technical due diligence for clean technology deals
- Research commercialization
- Startup validation and market planning
- Emissions reporting strategy
Programs and partnerships
- Grant and proposal strategy
- Industry and university collaboration
- Research program development
- Technical roadmapping
- Speaking and technical review
Have a difficult technical question?
Send me a short note. I respond personally.
ASCENT Lab
Researching the systems behind cleaner flight
My work connects hydrogen propulsion, aircraft design, energy infrastructure, and economic feasibility.
Hydrogen powered aircraft
SOFC and gas turbine propulsion
Blended wing body aircraft
BWB UAV development
Integrated aircraft power systems
Hydrogen storage and aircraft integration
Techno economic assessment
Airport scale hydrogen infrastructure
Fuel cell testing and validation
Aircraft and UAV mission studies
Publications
Selected publications
Research on hydrogen aviation, fuel cell propulsion, and clean hydrogen economics.
Techno-economic and environmental analysis of clean hydrogen deployment: A case study of Los Angeles International Airport
Airport scale analysis of clean liquid hydrogen production, storage, transportation, cost, and environmental impact for aviation decarbonization.
Design of Hydrogen Solid Oxide Fuel Cells in Blended Wing Body Aircraft
Design and comparison of hydrogen SOFC-GT propulsion in blended wing body and tube and wing aircraft configurations.
Methodology for assessing retrofitted hydrogen combustion and fuel cell aircraft environmental impacts
Framework for comparing hydrogen combustion and fuel cell aircraft retrofit pathways against conventional aviation propulsion.
Dynamic modeling of Hydrogen SOFC-GT powered Aircraft with integration analysis
Dynamic modeling and integration analysis for hydrogen SOFC-GT aircraft systems.
Design and Comparison of Hydrogen SOFC-GT in Blended Wing Body Aircraft
Aircraft sizing, powertrain integration, and emissions comparison for hydrogen BWB and tube and wing configurations.
Methodology to Assess Emissions and Performance Trade-Offs for a Retrofitted Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Hybrid and Hydrogen Powered Aircraft
Early framework for evaluating performance and emissions tradeoffs in hydrogen aircraft retrofit concepts.
Performance and Techno-Economic Analysis of Hydrogen Powered Propulsion for Flight
Doctoral research on hydrogen powered propulsion pathways, performance, and techno economic feasibility for aviation.
Education
Academic foundation
2024
PhD, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
University of California, Irvine
2021
MEng, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
University of California, Irvine
2020
BSc, Mechanical Engineering
Florida Institute of Technology
Selected work
Ideas explored through analysis and experiments
Hydrogen aircraft systems
Modeling and integration of hydrogen fuel cell and gas turbine propulsion.
Blended wing body aircraft
Comparing aircraft concepts through energy use, emissions, weight, and performance.
BWB fuel cell UAV development
Developing flight missions and hydrogen power systems for new UAV concepts.
Fuel cell test stand development
Designing experimental platforms for fuel cells, controls, thermal systems, and data collection.
Airport hydrogen infrastructure
Studying how airports can produce, store, transport, and afford clean hydrogen.
Rectify Emissions
A simple emissions reporting platform built for businesses in the UAE.
Ventures
Building beyond the lab
I test ideas in the real world, learn from customers, and turn useful concepts into focused ventures.
Current venture
Rectify Emissions
rectifygo.com ↗Rectify helps UAE businesses understand and report their carbon footprint without unnecessary complexity.
Other endeavours. I also explore early ideas through customer conversations, small market tests, and simple prototypes. The goal is to learn quickly and build only what people find useful.
Blog
Notes from the work
Short updates on research, ventures, and the people I learn from.
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Contact
Start a conversation
Have a project, research idea, or speaking invitation? Send me a note.
