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Meeting with Joseph Risson, engineering student and winner of a scholarship for his Viraj H2 project

Publication Date

18 December 2023

Meeting with Joseph Risson

Joseph Risson is in his 3rd year of the ISAE-SUPAERO engineering programme, specialising in Fluid Dynamics and Aircraft Design and Operation. And he’s already at the head of an innovative start-up. A keen aeromodeller and concerned by the challenges of tomorrow’s world, he has already led a number of innovative projects during his studies aimed at decarbonising aviation. Viraj H2 is the latest. Spotted by the Lopez-Loreta Foundation in Switzerland, Joseph and his partner Paul de Goÿs have been awarded €1m to continue their research into this innovative propulsion system. We met Joseph Risson at InnovSpace, where he “spends his time” and where the start-up Viraj H2 is based.

What added value is Viraj H2 seeking to bring to the carbon-free propulsion systems already being studied in the aviation sector?

There are two main hydrogen propulsion technologies: direct combustion (turboprop/turbofan) and the fuel cell. Our aim is to combine the advantages of each of the two technologies: the power density of the turboprop and the efficiency of the fuel cell, so as to optimise the propulsion system according to the phase of flight and the mission. The second added value of this hybridisation consists in recovering the steam from the battery and injecting it into the turbine. This will reduce NOx (nitrogen oxide) emissions from the turboprop and increase the efficiency and power density of the powertrain.

What did ISAE-SUPAERO offer you in terms of training and support in developing this project?

During my studies, the theoretical courses enabled me to acquire a lot of knowledge and the technical clubs to carry out technical projects, which is a real plus! For these various projects, which led to Viraj H2, we benefited from the Institute’s research facilities. For the purchase of components, we received financial support from the BDE and the Fondation ISAE-SUPAERO. And now that we’re developing our start-up, we’re being looked after by InnovSpace, the Institute’s incubator, which provides us with accommodation and support for our development.

How will the Lopez-Loreta grant help you to bring your innovation to fruition?

It gives us the means to move from a low-power prototype to a structured research and development phase within three partner laboratories: the Laplace laboratory (Plasma and Energy Conversion Laboratory), the IMFT (Toulouse Institute of Fluid Mechanics) and ISAE-SUPAERO. We estimate that this maturation phase will take around four years. Engineers will be recruited and two theses will be prepared. The aim is to evaluate the benefits of this propulsion system and to develop the first prototypes.