Collins Aerospace, a business of RTX, has announced the completion of its prototype development for high-voltage power distribution components, marking a significant milestone in the Clean Aviation SWITCH project.
These components include a solid-state power controller and a power distribution panel designed to manage increased electric loads in hybrid-electric propulsion systems.
The prototypes were produced in Nördlingen and are set to undergo system integration testing at The Grid, Collins’ advanced electric power systems lab in Rockford, Illinois.
Collins’ Nördlingen facility general manager Tino Schuldt said: “Hybrid-electric aircraft are an integral part of the aviation industry’s drive to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, yet without new, safe high-voltage power distribution systems, they will not fly.
“Here in Nördlingen, we’re leveraging our decades of experience in power distribution solutions and world-class facility to break new ground in the development of these critical enabling technologies for the next generation of hybrid-electric and all-electric platforms.”
The development of these megawatt-class power distribution components is crucial as the aviation industry moves towards hybrid-electric propulsion systems that require handling electric power levels from hundreds of kilowatts to megawatt levels.
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By GlobalDataSWITCH project officer Pierre Durel said: “The hybrid-electric propulsion solution is one of the key features offered by the SWITCH consortium to reach the CO2 reduction target of our programme for short-medium range aircraft.
“We are excited to see tangible technology bricks becoming available, representing the significant efforts made by the team to deliver critical items needed to run the ground test demonstrator by the end of Phase 1.”
Collins Aerospace’s contribution to the SWITCH project involves integrating two of its megawatt-class electric motor generators with a Pratt & Whitney GTF engine, showcasing a new hybrid-electric propulsion system.
The solid-state power controller and power distribution panel are designed to enable the safe management of high-voltage electricity at altitude within the SWITCH hybrid-electric architecture.
This innovation is part of RTX’s commitment to sustainable aviation technology and is complemented by other RTX initiatives such as the Hybrid-Electric Flight Demonstrator, STEP-Tech, and collaborations with Airbus PioneerLab.
The initial development of Collins’ solid-state power controller began through a collaboration between the RTX Technology Research Center, Collins Aerospace, and Pratt & Whitney under NASA’s Advanced Air Vehicles Program.
The SWITCH project is supported by a consortium that includes industry leaders such as MTU Aero Engines AG, Pratt & Whitney, GKN Aerospace, Airbus, and others.