Pratt & Whitney to Demonstrate Hydrogen-fuelled Turboprop Technology

Pratt & Whitney Canada will demonstrate hydrogen combustion technology on a PW127XT regional turboprop engine as part of a project supported by Canada’s Initiative for Sustainable Aviation Technology (INSAT). The project, named Hydrogen Advanced Design Engine Study (HyADES), will be in collaboration with Next Hydrogen Solutions Inc., which will develop high-efficiency, low-cost electrolyzers needed for establishing hydrogen production infrastructure.

Funding for the first phase of the project will include fuel nozzle and combustor rig testing using hydrogen fuel, while future phases will target full engine ground testing. The PW127XT engine is the most advanced member of Pratt & Whitney Canada’s PW100 engine series, which has powered regional turboprop aircraft for forty years and accumulated more than 220 million flight hours. Launched in 2021, the PW127XT engine offers over 3 per cent better fuel efficiency, 40 per cent improved time on wing, and 20 per cent reduced maintenance costs.