Pratt & Whitney Canada Partners with INSAT for Hydrogen Combustion Tech on PW127XT Engine

Pratt & Whitney Canada is leading the way in sustainable aviation with a new project aimed at demonstrating hydrogen combustion technology on its PW127XT regional turboprop engine. Supported by Canada’s Initiative for Sustainable Aviation Technology (INSAT), this project, named HyADES, will explore hydrogen as a viable fuel for regional aviation. Pratt & Whitney Canada is collaborating with Next Hydrogen Solutions Inc. to develop high-efficiency electrolysers that will help establish hydrogen production infrastructure, advancing the transition to cleaner aviation.

Edward Hoskin, Vice President of Engineering at Pratt & Whitney Canada, emphasized the importance of this collaboration, which aligns with their broader goals of advancing sustainability in aviation. He noted that regional aviation presents a promising use case for hydrogen, highlighting the versatility of adapting the highly efficient PW127XT engine to operate with low-carbon alternative fuels. This project builds on Pratt & Whitney’s legacy of leadership in engine technology and sustainability, with the HyADES project being an important step toward the goal of a hydrogen-powered future.

The first phase of the HyADES project will focus on testing fuel nozzles and combustor rigs that are capable of running on hydrogen fuel. In subsequent phases, the goal is to conduct full engine ground tests. The PW127XT engine, known for its advanced fuel efficiency, offers 3% better fuel performance and 40% improved time on wing compared to previous models. Launched in 2021, it has quickly become the most advanced member of the PW100 engine family, which has powered regional turboprops for over 40 years, logging more than 220 million flight hours.

In addition to the HyADES project, Pratt & Whitney Canada is involved in a second Insat-funded initiative, known as TEAME (Turbine Engine Advanced Materials for Efficiency). In partnership with Derivation Research Laboratory (DRL), this project will explore advanced materials for gas turbine engines’ hot section components, enhancing thermal efficiency and reducing fuel consumption and emissions. These combined efforts represent Pratt & Whitney Canada’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of aviation technology to achieve a more sustainable future for the industry.

With more than 185,000 employees and global sales of $69 billion in 2023, RTX, the parent company of Pratt & Whitney, continues to lead the aerospace industry through groundbreaking initiatives and innovations in sustainable aviation.