GE Aerospace, in collaboration with NASA, is pushing the boundaries of aviation technology with the development of a hybrid electric demonstrator engine. This initiative, part of NASA’s Hybrid Thermally Efficient Core (HyTEC) project, involves integrating electric motor/generators into a high-bypass commercial turbofan—the Passport engine—enhancing power during various operational phases.
The modification of the Passport engine marks a significant step in the journey towards electrified propulsion systems, aiming to optimize engine performance through these embedded components, even in the absence of mature energy storage solutions like batteries. This approach is pivotal as it potentially expedites the adoption of hybrid electric technologies in commercial aviation.
“Together with NASA, GE Aerospace is doing critical research and development that could help make hybrid electric commercial flight possible,” stated Arjan Hegeman, General Manager of Future of Flight Technologies at GE Aerospace.
The initial testing phases, including component-level evaluations of electric motor/generators and power electronics, have been successfully completed at GE Aerospace’s EPISCenter in Dayton, Ohio. A baseline assessment of the Passport engine also took place at the company’s Peebles Test Operation in Ohio, establishing performance benchmarks prior to the integration of hybrid electric components. The data from these tests are crucial for refining models ahead of a planned ground test.
In advancing these innovative propulsion systems, Hegeman noted, “We’re advancing state-of-the-art propulsion systems for next generation commercial aircraft with an important aim—to drive industry efforts to improve efficiency and reduce emissions compared to today’s aircraft engines.”
The collaboration has reached a new milestone with NASA awarding GE Aerospace a contract for Phase 2 of the HyTEC project. This next phase will continue to focus on developing technologies for an aircraft engine core demonstrator test slated for later this decade, building on achievements in high-pressure compressor and turbine aerodynamics and combustor technologies.
“Our collaborations with industry partners like GE Aerospace are paving the way for U.S. leadership in hybrid electric commercial transport aircraft,” said Anthony Nerone, HyTEC project manager at NASA’s Glenn Research Center. He highlighted the importance of this endeavor, pointing out that “Single-aisle aircraft are the biggest contributors to aviation carbon emissions. That’s why we’re focusing on key technologies that will enable next generation single-aisle aircraft with much greater efficiency and reduced emissions than the current fleet.”
Unveiled in 2021, the CFM RISE program, a key component of these efforts, encompasses a range of pioneering technologies, including advanced engine architectures and hybrid electric systems compatible with 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The program aims for a 20% improvement in fuel efficiency and a comparable reduction in CO2 emissions relative to the most efficient engines currently in operation.
Additionally, as part of the Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration (EPFD) program, GE Aerospace is advancing a megawatt-class hybrid electric propulsion system. This system, developed in partnership with Boeing and using modified Saab 340B aircraft equipped with CT7 engines, is scheduled for ground and flight tests within this decade.
In response to these technological advancements, GE Aerospace has announced plans to hire over 900 engineers in 2024, further underscoring its commitment to pioneering future flight technologies.