Power Dense Bottoming Cycles for Microturbine Energy Recovery

TIAX LLC proposes to develop an organic Rankine bottoming cycle utilizing a scroll expander with HFC-245fa working fluid, which will use the waste heat content from the exhaust from a microturbine to generate additional elecric power. The scroll expander provides high efficiency at both on and off design conditions and at full and part load conditions. THe design of the scroll expander is a derivative of the existing TIAX carbon dioxide expander technology. HFC-245fa is a benign, readily available working fluid whose thermodynamic properties allow a large amount of the heat content of the microturbine exhaust to be utilized. The proposed scroll expander technology is also applicable to bottoming cycles for heavy duty truck engines, where the expander would be mechanically connected to the engine shaft via the accessory belt drive.