The U.S. Navy is interested in exploring the development of innovative approaches to improve the specific fuel consumption of Naval vessels by incorporating compact, durable, and efficient waste heat recovery technologies into shipboard power generation module designs to convert turbine exhaust heat into power and improve overall system efficiency while reducing fuel consumption. Echogen Power Systems is commercializing a waste heat to power system through the development of a thermal engine using a modified Rankine Cycle with supercritical CO2 as the working fluid. The Echogen Cycle is a system platform, scalable from 250 kW to greater than 50 MW, that can operate with heat sources from 400 F to 1,200 F with efficiencies that exceed 30% in a small system footprint. Echogen proposes to explore the feasibility of using its thermal engine technology to improve efficiency and reduce fuel consumption for marine power generation modules. A preliminary design will be prepared that defines salient features, system performance, and addresses systems packaging and integration requirements for Naval applications. Key tasks to be addressed will include definition of waste heat exchanger designs with reduced thermo-mechanical stresses to maximize service life while minimizing back-pressure effects on the prime mover.
Benefit: The Echogen heat engine is currently in the product introduction and customer demonstration phase of development for commercial markets. Successful completion of this Phase I effort will provide a foundation for follow-on Phases II and III which will successfully develop and introduce application-specific versions of Echogen thermal engines to satisfy the heat recovery needs for Naval shipboard applications. We anticipate that the rigor required to meet DoD requirements will produce not only new products for the DoD, but new technology for components, system controls, and manufacturing techniques which will allow Echogen to introduce these new features into future commercial product offerings.
Keywords: Echogen Cycle, Echogen Cycle, Waste heat to power cycle, Thermal engine., Waste Heat Recovery, Bottom cycling on turbines, Modified Rankine Cycle, Heat Engine, supercritical carbon dioxide
