CREARE LLC — Department of Defense SBIR Phase II: N111-078

Description

Subsequent Phase II Proposal, extension of Phase II Contract N00014-12-C-0357 -- Marine gas turbine engines are typically 30 to 40% efficient at full power resulting in 60 to 70% of the input energy being exhausted to the environment as waste heat. These engines are even less efficient at partial power conditions where they often operate. Bottoming cycles, such as organic Rankine cycles, can utilize this waste heat to produce useful work, improving overall efficiency by 10 to 20%. An enabling technology for utilizing a bottoming cycle is an Exhaust Heat Recovery Heat Exchanger (EHRX) which transfers heat from the gas turbine exhaust to the working fluid of the bottoming cycle. For marine applications, this heat exchanger experiences large temperature transients and gradients, and is exposed to a corrosive exhaust stream. These environmental factors make long lifetimes and durability key challenges. On this program, we are developing an innovative and robust EHRX that is optimized for marine applications. During the Phase II Base, we developed fabrication procedures, built, and tested prototype EHRX components and a subscale EHRX. During the Phase II Option, we built and delivered a larger subscale EHRX to be used for performance testing with a gas turbine. On the proposed program, we will (1) build a prototypical scale EHRX, (2) procure a commercial bottoming cycle, and (3) assist in the integration and testing of an EHRX with a gas turbine engine and bottoming cycle to demonstrate power generation from waste heat.