Last updated: September 2026
A silent field generator replaces the fuel genset at remote sites with a hydrogen fuel cell power unit: no combustion, no exhaust fumes, operating surface temperature below 70 °C (manufacturer specification)†. beneuav’s ZH-HP series supplies 1.6 kW and 3.2 kW of AC power for bases where noise, heat or fumes give positions away — or simply make work miserable.
When “Silent” Matters
- Night operations — lighting and comms without a genset’s acoustic footprint.
- Perimeter posts — low thermal signature (specified <70 °C) vs the hot, visible block of a diesel unit.
- Enclosed or urban sites — no exhaust to vent, no fuel storage hazards.
- Drone bases — recharge batteries anywhere (see below).
Sizing: 1.6 kW or 3.2 kW?
| Load profile | Recommended unit |
|---|---|
| Comms + lighting + laptops (a border post’s night load) | ZH-HP-1600 (1.6 kW, 14.5 kg)† |
| + drone battery charging through the day | ZH-HP-3200 (3.2 kW, 22.2 kg)† |
| Multi-room command post | parallel 3200 units |
Both output AC 220 V 50 Hz†; the 1600 adds USB 5 V for small devices†.
Deployment Pattern: The 3-Piece Field Kit
- ZH-HP generator — primary AC power.
- Battery charger bank — powered by the generator, recharges drone packs overnight.
- Cylinder store — standard industrial cylinders, sized to the duty cycle; swap takes minutes.
One 3.2 kW unit runs a small UAV team’s overnight charging cycle; add the HPD hydrogen drone and the site is fully grid-independent — power and aircraft burn the same fuel.
Efficiency and Runtime
The fuel cell converts hydrogen at >2× the efficiency of an equivalent combustion generator (manufacturer specification)† — more mission hours per cylinder, and runtime scales linearly with cylinders stored. Our proposals include a cylinder schedule for your exact duty cycle.
FAQ
How quiet is a hydrogen fuel cell generator?
It operates with low acoustic signature and a surface below 70 °C (manufacturer specification); verified sound-pressure measurements will be published as bench tests complete.
How long can it run?
Runtime is set by the cylinder store, not the unit — hours per cylinder depend on load; the schedule is part of our site proposal.
Can it power a drone-charging station?
Yes — this is a standard pairing; 3.2 kW supports a small fleet’s charging cycle (see off-grid drone charging).
What maintenance does it need?
Minimal scheduled service versus a combustion genset — no oil, no filters for combustion; the service plan ships with the unit.
Does it work in heat and cold?
Operating environment is specified in the datasheet; discuss your climate extremes in the RFQ so we size storage and enclosure.