American Made Advocacy: Success in Washington Requires Patience, Persistence, and Sustained Focus
The Government Circuit: News on Defense Electronics, Europe, and Sustainability
Defense Speak Interpreted: SWaPing Nanosatellites for Defense Systems
RTX's Collins Aerospace Develops High-Voltage Power Components for Clean Aviation Project
October 29, 2024 | RTXEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
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 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.
Share on:
Suggested Items
Keysight Signs Virtual Power Purchase Agreement for Renewable Energy Development
01/24/2025 | BUSINESS WIREKeysight Technologies, Inc., signed a virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) with Southern Power, a leading U.S. wholesale energy provider and subsidiary of Southern Company, to acquire renewable energy credits produced by a 39 MW portion of the Phase III expansion at the Millers Branch Solar Facility.
Electric Motor Design Firm ECM Appoints David Hartwell as Chief Sales Officer
01/23/2025 | NewsWireUS electric motor design software firm ECM PCB Stator Tech, has tapped David Hartwell as Chief Sales Officer. In this role, Hartwell will lead business development for ECM's PCB Stator products and services.
Beyond Design: Electro-optical Circuit Boards
01/22/2025 | Barry Olney -- Column: Beyond DesignPredicting the role of PCB designers in 10 years is a challenge. If only I had a crystal ball. However, we know that as technology progresses, the limitations of copper PCBs are increasingly apparent, particularly regarding speed, bandwidth, and signal integrity. Innovations such as optical interconnects and photonic integrated circuits are setting the stage for the next generation of PCBs, delivering higher performance and efficiency. The future of PCB design will probably incorporate these new technologies to address the challenges of traditional copper-based designs.
The Knowledge Base: My 2025 Industry Wish List
01/14/2025 | Mike Konrad -- Column: The Knowledge BaseMy 2025 wish list for the electronics manufacturing industry is short. In fact, there’s only one item on the list: reliable EV charging stations. I love to drive cars, off-road vehicles, and boats. I also fly airplanes, and I’m an unabashed tech geek. From computers to tech gadgets, count me in. Because electric vehicles combine my fascination for both propulsion and technology, most of my friends and colleagues are surprised to learn that I do not yet have an electric vehicle. So, what’s holding me back? The answer does not lie with the electric vehicle itself, but with the current state of public EV charging stations.
IMI Partners with a US-based Electric Mobility Manufacturer
01/10/2025 | IMIIntegrated Micro-Electronics, Inc. (IMI), a global multi-national electronics manufacturing company, proudly announced that it has entered into a strategic manufacturing partnership with LAND/LAND Energy, a Cleveland-based electric mobility manufacturer in the US. The collaboration will further accelerate new electric vehicle production globally.