Compact, Durable, and Efficient Exhaust Energy Recovery Heat Exchanger

Gas turbine and diesel engines lose a significant portion of energy to the environment as waste heat. Recovery of this waste heat offers the potential for increased fuel savings. The design of a durable heat recovery device such as a heat exchanger for this waste heat recovery is challenging due to the highly transient operation, limitation on pressure drop and weight and space constraints. Precision Combustion, Inc. (PCI) proposes to design and develop a simple, compact, durable and efficient heat recovery heat exchanger (HRHX) design that can successfully operate in the exhaust temperature range from 260C/500F to 650C/1200F. These HRHX features are being adapted from PCI"s extensive experience of an integral catalytic reactor heat exchanger designed for gas turbine combustion. The Phase I work will design and develop the HRHX design concept for marine application. In addition, an advanced working heat transfer fluid will be identified. PCI will conduct analytical studies to optimize the heat transfer effectiveness. In Phase II, PCI will manufacture and test the full scale prototype design.