ADVANCEMENTS IN PROPULSION TECHNOLOGIES

Unveiling the Future of Flight with innovations in Commercial Aircraft Propulsion on showcase at Paris Air Show 2023

By ROHIT GOEL

PRATT & WHITNEY

Raytheon Technologies (RTX) announced significant progress by Pratt & Whitney and Collins Aerospace on advancing hybrid-electric propulsion through the Scalable Turboelectric Powertrain Technology (STEP-Tech) demonstrator, which completed its first engine run and electrical system integration test. As a modular and scalable demonstrator platform, STEP-Tech is intended for rapid prototyping of distributed propulsion concepts applicable to a wide range of next generation applications, including advanced air mobility vehicles, high-speed eVTOL and blended wing body aircraft.

Hybrid-electric propulsion is a key part of RTX’s roadmap for enabling more sustainable aviation, with the potential to enhance efficiency across many future aircraft applications, from advanced air mobility to regional aircraft and single-aisles and the company is leading the development of hybrid-electric technology through multiple demonstration programmes, including STEP-Tech.

RTX is also advancing hybrid-electric propulsion as part of its hybrid-electric flight demonstrator programme, supported by the governments of Canada and Quebec, and the Sustainable Water-Injecting Turbofan Comprising Hybrid-Electrics (SWITCH) consortium, supported by the European Union’s Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking.

These demonstrator programmes are part of a companywide strategy to develop a broad portfolio of sustainable aviation technologies. The strategy recognises the importance of continually advancing aircraft efficiency and enabling wider use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels to support the industry’s goal of achieving net-zero CO2 emissions for civil aviation by 2050.

Cfm

Two years after unveiling one of the aviation industry’s most comprehensive technology demonstrator programmes for a more sustainable future of flight, CFM International has completed more than 100 tests as part of its Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engines (RISE) technology programme.

Through the RISE program, CFM is advancing a suite of pioneering technologies, including advanced engine architectures like the open fan, compact core, advanced combustion technology, thermal management, and hybrid electric systems to be compatible with 100 per cent Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). In addition, new technologies are also being matured to test direct hydrogen combustion. The CFM RISE program targets more than 20 per cent better fuel efficiency with 20 per cent lower CO2 emissions compared to the most efficient engines in service today. Technologies are also being validated to meet the most stringent non-CO2 and noise emission requirements.

The innovation at the heart of the RISE program is the openfan architecture, also known as an “unducted fan,” which was first developed by GE and Safran in the 1980s. Open-fan technology derives its name from the absence of a case surrounding the fan. The architecture enables the engine to maintain the