High-Voltage Power Distribution Components Prototyping Completed

Collins Aerospace, an 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 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.

Tino Schuldt, general manager for Collins’ Nördlingen facility, 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.”

Pierre Durel, project officer for SWITCH, added, “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.”

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.