Vanzetti Engineering and the German Center DLR for Testing H2 Pumps

Vanzetti Engineering has developed, in collaboration with the Institute of Propulsion Technology (AT) of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), a PoC (Proof of Concept) for a test bench dedicated to liquid hydrogen (LH2) pumps. This is a very promising field for Vanzetti, as they told us themselves in an interview at Gastech.

This partnership is part of the research collaborations funded by the German aviation program (LuFo) and the European Clean Aviation initiative, which are generating the necessary momentum to develop flight-ready technologies compatible with climate goals by 2050.

The Institute of Propulsion Technology (AT) of the German Aerospace Center brings decades of experience in gaseous hydrogen (GH2) combustion and fuel systems, and coordinates a consortium of engine and aircraft manufacturers to stimulate research with a view to effective hydrogen adoption.

Experts in Cryogenic Pumps

Vanzetti Engineering has been operating for over 40 years as an OEM in the production of cryogenic pumps, holding a prominent position in the LNG Dual Fuel marine market with solutions for gas supply systems. Thanks to this partnership, the company is leveraging its “dual-use” industrial experience in the design of submerged pumps, integrating it with DLR’s research and testing capabilities in hydrogen technologies.

In the context of the UpLift project, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, DLR converted one of its test benches into the Future Propulsion Test Facility (FPT), operational since October 2025. The gas manufacturer MESSER also took part in the project, thanks to its expertise in experimental process design for LH2 and cryogenic gas management.

The LH2 pump test bench

The research activities of the AT Institute on innovative component technologies allow the FPT to test key elements for liquid hydrogen, including tanks, distribution networks, pumps, heat exchangers, and combustion chambers, all integrated into a complete fuel distribution system.

The modular design of the facility allows innovation exchange between different sectors, from aviation to energy and marine applications. In collaboration with industrial partners, Proof of Concept (PoC) tests are planned on components with gaseous hydrogen at room temperature. A test on heat exchangers for hydrogen conditioning systems was already successfully completed last year.

In this context, DLR and Vanzetti Engineering developed a PoC for a test bench dedicated to LH2 pumps, with the aim of demonstrating the feasibility of adapting cryogenic pumping solutions to the green aviation market.

In January 2026, tests were conducted at the FPT to validate the operation and performance of the liquid hydrogen pump. The tests involved a submerged cryogenic pump housed inside its cryostat, with a maximum flow rate of up to 180 g/s.

“The test was completed successfully, confirming the performance models of the Vanzetti pump and allowing us to gain experience on material behavior, electrical motor thermal insulation, tolerances, and the configuration of liquid hydrogen pump instrumentation,” stated Andrea Capuani, Chief Commercial Officer of Vanzetti Engineering.