New systems were produced at Collins' facility in Nördlingen,
Germany
NÖRDLINGEN, Germany, Oct. 28,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Collins Aerospace, an RTX
(NYSE: RTX) business, has completed prototype development of a
solid-state power controller and power distribution panel as part
of the SWITCH project, supported by the European Union's Clean
Aviation Joint Undertaking (Clean Aviation). Following design and
production in Nördlingen, the megawatt-class power distribution
components will now be shipped to Collins' state-of-the-art
electric power systems lab, The Grid, in Rockford, Illinois for system integration
testing.
To support hybrid-electric propulsion systems, new high-voltage
distribution technologies are required as electric power levels
increase from hundreds of kilowatts in today's aircraft, to
megawatt levels in the aircraft of the future. For SWITCH, RTX is
developing a new hybrid-electric propulsion system that combines
two Collins megawatt-class electric motor generators within a Pratt
& Whitney GTF™ engine. With the ability to handle increased
electric loads, Collins' solid-state power controller and power
distribution panel will enable the safe management of high-voltage
electricity at altitude throughout the SWITCH hybrid-electric
architecture.
"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," said Tino Schuldt,
general manager for Collins' Nördlingen facility. "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 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,"
said Pierre Durel, project officer
for SWITCH. "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."
Hybrid-electric propulsion is a central pillar of RTX's
sustainable aviation technology roadmap. In addition to SWITCH, RTX
is advancing hybrid-electric technologies through multiple
demonstrator programs applicable to a variety of future aircraft,
including the RTX Hybrid-Electric Flight Demonstrator,
STEP-Tech and Airbus PioneerLab.
Collins' solid-state power controller was initially
developed as part of a collaboration between the RTX
Technology Research Center, Collins and Pratt & Whitney under
NASA's Advanced Air Vehicles Program.
The SWITCH project is a collaborative consortium including MTU
Aero Engines AG, Pratt & Whitney, Collins Aerospace, GKN
Aerospace, Airbus and others. Funded by the European Union under GA
no. 101102006 — SWITCH. Views and opinions expressed are however
those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of
the European Union or Clean Aviation. Neither the European Union
nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
About Clean Aviation
The Clean Aviation Joint
Undertaking is the European Union's leading research and
innovation programme for transforming aviation towards a
sustainable and climate-neutral future. It is a European
public-private partnership between the European Union and the
private aviation sector. The programme's disruptive clean aviation
technologies will help reduce CO2 emissions of short-medium range
and regional aircraft by no less than 30%, and together with the
use of Sustainable Alternative Fuels and Hydrogen by approx.
90%.
About Collins Aerospace
Collins Aerospace, an RTX
business, is a leader in integrated and intelligent solutions for
the global aerospace and defense industry. Our 80,000 employees are
dedicated to delivering future-focused technologies to advance
sustainable and connected aviation, passenger safety and comfort,
mission success, space exploration and more.
About RTX
With more than 185,000 global
employees, RTX pushes the limits of technology and science to
redefine how we connect and protect our world. Through
industry-leading businesses – Collins Aerospace, Pratt &
Whitney, and Raytheon – we are advancing aviation, engineering
integrated defense systems, and developing next-generation
technology solutions and manufacturing to help global customers
address their most critical challenges. The company, with 2023
sales of $69 billion, is
headquartered in Arlington,
Virginia.
For questions or to schedule an interview, please
contact corporatepr@rtx.com
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