The RTX group has completed the preliminary design review for the hybrid-electric propulsion demonstrator the group is developing under the SWITCH project funded by the European Union’s Clean Aviation initiative. The company reported the milestone on Monday as part of ongoing work with multiple partners to demonstrate the potential for hybrid-electric and water-enhanced turbofan technology to improve fuel-burn efficiency and reduce emissions on future short- and medium-range airliners.
SWITCH stands for Sustainable Water Injecting Turbofan Comprising Hybrid-Electrics, and the consortium behind the project encompasses RTX companies Pratt & Whitney and Collins Aerospace, as well as MTU Aero Engines, GKN Aerospace, and Airbus. The demonstrator combines a Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbofan engine with a pair of Collins’ two-megawatt electric motor generators mounted on the low and high spools of the engine.
Collins also has developed the powertrain’s motor controllers, high-voltage wiring, and batteries. It will test the demonstrator at The Grid—its electric power systems development facility in Rockford, Illinois.
“Completing the preliminary design review is a significant milestone towards demonstrating the potential of hybrid-electric technology to enhance the performance and efficiency of next-generation aircraft propulsion systems,” said Juan de Bedout, RTX’s chief technology officer.
In addition to SWITCH, RTX is involved in other carbon-reducing demonstrator programs, including STEP-Tech and the RTX hybrid-electric flight demonstrator supported by the governments of Canada and Quebec.