Collins Aerospace Develops High-Voltage Power Distribution Components for Clean Aviation’s SWITCH Project
Collins Aerospace, a subsidiary of RTX, has achieved a significant milestone in the development of sustainable aviation technology. The company has successfully completed prototype development of a solid-state power controller and power distribution panel as part of the SWITCH project, an initiative under the European Union’s Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking (Clean Aviation). These megawatt-class components, designed and produced at Collins’ facility in Noerdlingen, Germany, are now being shipped to the company’s state-of-the-art electric power systems lab, The Grid, in Rockford, Illinois, for system integration testing.
The development of these components marks a critical step towards the realization of hybrid-electric propulsion systems for future aircraft. As electric power requirements in aircraft are expected to increase significantly, from hundreds of kilowatts in current models to megawatt levels in the aircraft of the future, new high-voltage distribution technologies are essential. The SWITCH project, led by RTX, is focused on developing a new hybrid-electric propulsion system that combines two Collins megawatt-class electric motor generators within a Pratt & Whitney GTFTM engine.
Collins’ solid-state power controller and power distribution panel are specifically designed to handle these increased electric loads safely, ensuring the reliable and efficient management of high-voltage electricity at altitude throughout the SWITCH hybrid-electric architecture.
Importance for Sustainable Aviation
Hybrid-electric aircraft are recognized as a vital part of the aviation industry’s commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. However, without the development of new, safe, and reliable high-voltage power distribution systems, these aircraft will not be able to fly.
“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,” stated Tino Schuldt, General Manager of Collins’ Noerdlingen facility. “Here in Noerdlingen, 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.”
Collaboration and Funding
The SWITCH project is a collaborative effort involving a consortium of leading aerospace companies, including MTU Aero Engines AG, Pratt & Whitney, Collins Aerospace, GKN Aerospace, Airbus, and others. The project is funded by the European Union under grant agreement number GA no. 101102006, highlighting the importance of this initiative for achieving EU sustainability goals.
The SWITCH project is a major step forward in the development of sustainable aviation technology, and Collins Aerospace’s successful prototype development of high-voltage power distribution components is a testament to the company’s commitment to this critical area. The successful integration of these components into the SWITCH hybrid-electric propulsion system will pave the way for a future where sustainable aviation is a reality.
