Sustainability challenges – and solutions – are complex, says Pratt & Whitney
When it comes to sustainability in the aerospace industry, the “challenges are complex and so are the solutions”, according to Graham Webb, chief sustainability officer for Pratt & Whitney.
Speaking to Aerospace Global News at the Farnborough International Airshow 2024, Webb said a “multi-pronged approach” was required to tackle the issue.
“First and foremost it is a fleet retrofit with our modern, state of the art geared turbofan engine, which is already delivering value to the industry today,” Webb explained.
“Beyond that, we are working on a suite of technologies, be they hybrid-electric and alternative fuels – sustainable aviation fuel, hydrogen – and then lastly we’re focusing on our own operations, bringing down the emissions of that, and also working within the supply chain.”
At the airshow, Pratt & Whitney announced the completion of the preliminary design review for the hybrid-electric propulsion demonstrator engine being developed as part of the SWITCH project, supported by the European Union’s Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking (Clean Aviation).
By combining two Collins Aerospace megawatt-class electric motor generators within a Pratt & Whitney GTF engine, the hybrid-electric propulsion system aims to enhance engine efficiency across all phases of flight, offering the potential to reduce fuel burn and emissions for future short- and medium-range aircraft.
The SWITCH hybrid-electric propulsion system comprises two megawatt-class electric motor generators mounted on the low spool and high spool of the GTF engine, along with associated motor controllers, high voltage wiring and batteries. Testing of the electric powertrain is planned to take place at Collins’ state-of-the-art electric power systems development facility, The Grid, in Rockford, IL, before assembly and test of the full-scale GTF demonstrator engine.
The SWITCH project (Sustainable Water Injecting Turbofan Comprising Hybrid-Electrics) is a collaborative consortium including MTU Aero Engines AG, Pratt & Whitney, Collins Aerospace, GKN Aerospace and Airbus, and aims to demonstrate the potential of hybrid-electric and water-enhanced turbofan technologies to enable improvements in aircraft fuel efficiency and reduced emissions.
Hybrid-electric propulsion is a key part of RTX’s technology roadmap for enabling more sustainable aviation. In addition to SWITCH, RTX is advancing hybrid-electric technologies through multiple demonstrator programs applicable to a variety of future aircraft platforms, including STEP-Tech and the RTX Hybrid-Electric Flight Demonstrator, supported by the governments of Canada and Quebec.
