GKN Aerospace Supplies Electrical Wiring for Clean Aviation’s Hybrid Aircraft Project

Key Takeaways

GKN Aerospace has delivered the first high-voltage Electrical Wiring Interconnection System (EWIS) for the Clean Aviation SWITCH project.
These AC wire harnesses are essential for megawatt-class hybrid electric propulsion and will be tested at Collins Aerospace’s lab later this year.
The SWITCH project aims to enhance aircraft propulsion technologies for better efficiency in short- and medium-range aircraft.

Delivery of High-Voltage Wiring System

UK-based GKN Aerospace has successfully completed and delivered its first high-voltage Electrical Wiring Interconnection System (EWIS) for the Clean Aviation SWITCH project. This system features AC wire harnesses that were designed, assembled, and tested at GKN Aerospace’s facility in Papendrecht, Netherlands. The harnesses are crucial for supporting megawatt-class hybrid electric propulsion systems.

Additional units of the EWIS will be shipped in July to Collins Aerospace’s advanced electric power systems laboratory, known as The Grid, located in Rockford, Illinois. These units will undergo system integration testing within the year. Following this, the system will facilitate the testing of hybrid-electric Pratt & Whitney GTF engine demonstrators at EME Aero in Poland.

The SWITCH project is a multinational initiative aimed at pioneering advanced aircraft propulsion technologies, which are vital for improving efficiency and performance in future short- and medium-range aircraft models. The project is spearheaded by a consortium that includes prominent players like MTU Aero Engines AG, RTX businesses Pratt & Whitney and Collins Aerospace, Airbus, and GKN Aerospace. The European Union supports SWITCH through the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking.

Kristin Smith, Vice President of Electric Power Systems at Collins Aerospace, emphasized the significance of GKN’s delivery. She stated, “The delivery of GKN’s high-voltage electric wiring system to RTX is a critical next step toward demonstrating the effectiveness of hybrid-electric propulsion technology for future aircraft platforms.” She further noted that Collins’s powertrain system is slated to begin testing at The Grid lab later this year, which will precede the assembly and testing of two Collins megawatt-class power motor generators within a full-scale Pratt & Whitney GTF demonstrator engine.

This development holds promise for the future of aviation, as hybrid-electric propulsion technologies are seen as essential for more sustainable air travel. The collaboration among industry leaders in the SWITCH project underscores a collective effort towards enhancing aircraft engine performance while reducing environmental impact, thus aligning with global aviation sustainability goals.

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