36
Utility and Industrial Heat Exchangers--Thermal Centric Corporation,
Dr. Brian Edward Thompson, Principal
Investigator, bthompson@thermalcentric.com
Ms. Stephanie Jo Bariault,
Business Official, sbariault@thermalcentric.com
DOE Grant No. DE‑FG02‑07ER84807
Amount:
$750,000
The
recovery of heat currently wasted in exhaust gases can reduce fuel consumption
in almost every commercial and industrial sector. In the electricity generation sector alone,
even modest improvements in energy recovery effectiveness would result in
billions of dollars in savings annually. New materials made from conductive graphite
have created a significant opportunity to produce heat exchangers for energy
recovery from exhausts. This project seeks
to advance this technology in preparation for the commercialization of energy
recovery products, initially for microturbine
generators and ultimately for thermal power generation by utilities. In Phase I, new elements made from conductive
graphite materials performed beyond their thermal engineering and reliability
expectations, demonstrating that they are ideal for exhaust heat recovery. Issues with bonding, sealing, pressure drop,
thermal stresses, corrosion, and maintenance were overcome with solutions
appropriate for commercial products. Phase
II will extend these results and culminate in full-scale field studies. In particular, the conductive graphite
materials will be optimized to maximize the recovery of energy from generator
exhausts; robustness, reliability, and performance will be measured under
practical operating conditions; and manufacturing tools will be advanced to
optimize element fabrication.
Commercial Applications and
Other Benefits as described by the awardee:
The
graphite heat exchangers should enable more energy to be removed from exhausts
because graphite does not corrode in condensing combustion products. Costs should be reduced because the graphite would
significantly extend the lifespan of energy-recovery heat exchangers. In addition to electricity generation, the
technology should be applicable to energy recovery in residential, commercial,
and industrial refrigeration and air conditioning; chemical, petroleum, and
industrial plants; and automobiles, trucks, trains, and aircraft.