Concepts NREC, LLC — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: Concepts NREC will perform a feasibility analysis of a Brayton Cycle-based, supercritical

Description

Concepts NREC will perform a feasibility analysis of a Brayton Cycle-based, supercritical CO2 (S-CO2) system to recover waste heat from an MT-30 gas turbine used in marine applications. The S-CO2 cycle has been promoted in several DOE studies as an efficient prime mover system for heat sources less than 1500 oF. A preliminary feasibility analysis conducted by Concepts NREC has indicated a power improvement of 20% for the MT-30. The analysis will also consider the integration of thermoelectric generator system(s) within the S-CO2 cycle. The power improvement can be as high as 27% with TEG. TEG"s use cycle temperature differences to generate electric power and effectively increases the cycle efficiency to almost the limit of the Carnot Cycle efficiency. The proposal to integrate TEG systems into waste heat exchangers will use the work done by Maine Maritime Academy and Mr. Wallace of Thermoelectric Power Systems, LLC sponsored by American Bureau of Shipping and Office of Naval Research. Also considered is an auxiliary combustion system to provide thermal stability during the prime mover transient power demands. Phase 1 will culminate in an economic analysis for the recovery system to assess its economical viability to save fuel and system O & M costs.