A group of aerospace technology companies have announced the formation of a collaborative consortium to develop hybrid-electric and water-enhanced turbofan technology for future aircraft propulsion systems.
The effort is supported by the European Union Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking and has been named the Sustainable Water-Injecting Turbofan Comprising Hybrid-Electrics, or Switch.
MTU Aero Engines AG, Pratt & Whitney, Collins Aerospace, GKN Aerospace, Airbus and others aim to demonstrate the potential of these technologies to improve fuel efficiency and reduce aircraft CO2 emissions by up to 25 per cent compared to today’s state-of-the-art propulsion systems for short- and medium-range aircraft. The consortium is coordinated by MTU.
Water-Enhanced Turbofan and hybrid-electric propulsion
The project is focused on developing a novel propulsion concept built from two revolutionary and synergetic technologies: Water-Enhanced Turbofan (WET) and hybrid-electric propulsion.
By combining these technologies with Pratt & Whitney’s GTFTM engine architecture, the Switch concept aims to significantly enhance efficiency and substantially reduce emissions across the full operating envelope of an aircraft.
Technologies developed as part of Switch will be fully compatible with cleaner alternative fuels – such as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) — and will be evaluated for future use with hydrogen.
“This highly impactful Switch consortium provides a unique opportunity to demonstrate the benefits of both WET and hybrid-electric propulsion technologies, not only independently but as parts of a system,” said Dr Stefan Weber, senior vice president, Engineering and Technology, at MTU.
“WET offers considerable potential to boost efficiency and reduce all emissions significantly for future aircraft propulsion systems, whether they are powered by conventional kerosene, SAF, or even hydrogen. Since the concept is gas turbine based, the WET concept fully leverages MTU’s expertise.”
Efficiency across all phases of flight
The hybrid-electric GTF powertrain will enable even greater efficiency across all phases of flight by leveraging highly efficient megawatt class electric motor generators, power electronics and batteries to optimise the performance of the fuel-burning gas turbine.
The WET concept recovers water vapour from the engine exhaust and re-injects it into the combustion chamber to significantly improve fuel efficiency, reduce NOx emissions, and lessen contrail forming emissions.
These revolutionary technologies are designed to work together to deliver a step change reduction in emissions and energy use across the full operating system, while maintaining world class reliability and operability.
“This project will enable us to advance several key technologies on our roadmap to further extend the efficiency of the GTF engine architecture,” said Geoff Hunt, senior vice president, Engineering and Technology, at Pratt & Whitney.
“Given the challenge of reducing the environmental impact of aviation, cross-industry collaboration and public-private partnerships like Clean Aviation will play a vital role in delivering the technology breakthroughs needed to make net zero emissions aviation a reality.”
Integration of Switch technologies
Airbus will provide key expertise relating to the future integration of Switch technologies at the aircraft-level and will support the evaluation of performance benefits including aircraft design and integration of battery and energy management systems.
“New propulsion technologies will play an important role in achieving aviation’s net-zero goals, along with new aircraft designs and sustainable energy sources,” said Sabine Klauke, chief technology officer at Airbus.
“We welcome this opportunity to collaborate and progress research into the next generation of advanced powertrain concepts.”
Electric motor generators
Collins will provide megawatt-class electric motor generators and power electronics, high-voltage DC distribution and protection, thermal management components and nacelle architectures for the project.
“Hybrid-electric propulsion technology is a key enabler for increased efficiency across multiple different aircraft applications, from advanced air mobility to commercial airliners,” said Mauro Atalla, senior vice president, Engineering & Technology for Collins Aerospace.
“Working with Clean Aviation and the Switch consortium, we will accelerate the development of these critical technologies from our state-of-the-art facilities in France, Germany, Italy, Ireland and the UK.”
Engine structures
GKN Aerospace will develop various engine structures with all-new functionalities, such as integrated electric machines and heat exchangers.
“We are delighted to be collaborating in the Switch project and help address many exciting opportunities and challenges around thermal and electrical power management within a highly advanced propulsion system,” said Henrik Runnemalm, vice president, Global Technology Center, Sweden, at GKN Aerospace.
“We will leverage our unique hot test rig in Trollhättan, Sweden, as well as our high voltage electrical wiring developed by our GKN Fokker business in the Netherlands.”
Current funding for Phase 1 of Switch extends to 2025 and will include testing of a hybrid-electric GTF engine, WET technology and sub-system laboratory testing, and design activity around an integrated hybrid-electric and WET cycle propulsion system.
Subject to successful testing of these key technologies and component designs, further phases of ground testing and flight tests are expected to follow.
List of participating organisations
- MTU Aero Engines (Germany, Poland)
- Pratt & Whitney (USA, Poland)
- Airbus (France, Germany, Spain, UK)
- Collins Aerospace (France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, UK, USA)
- GKN Aerospace (Sweden, Netherlands)
- Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece)
- Chalmers University of Technology (Sweden)
- DLR German Aerospace Center (Germany)
- University of Stuttgart (Germany)
