Continuous Detonation Engine Combustors

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Program:
OPEN 2012
Award:
$462,236
Location:
Canoga Park, California
Status:
ALUMNI
Project Term:
06/14/2013 - 03/15/2015

Technology Description:

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne (PWR) is developing a new combustor for gas turbine engines that uses shockwaves for more efficient combustion through a process known as continuous detonation. These combustors would enable more electricity to be generated from a given amount of natural gas, increasing the efficiency of gas turbine engines while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. PWR will design and build continuous detonation combustors and test them in a simulated gas turbine environment to demonstrate the feasibility of incorporating the technology into natural gas-fueled turbine electric power generators.

Potential Impact:

If successful and widely deployed, PWR’s continuous detonation combustor technology would enable a 14% reduction in specific fuel consumption in a gas turbine which could add up to a 4% reduction in U.S. power grid use, substantially reducing natural gas consumption and limiting greenhouse gas emissions.

Security:

Enabling more efficient and cost-effective use of natural gas for power generation would improve the stability of the electric grid and increase our national energy security by supporting abundant domestic energy resources.

Environment:

Natural gas power generation at scale could result in 80 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions reduction per year.

Economy:

PWR’s technology could yield over $5 million dollars per year of savings in reduced fuel costs for every large scale turbine in service.

Contact

ARPA-E Program Director:
Dr. Bryan Willson
Project Contact:
Dr. Glenn Havskjold
Press and General Inquiries Email:
ARPA-E-Comms@hq.doe.gov
Project Contact Email:
glenn.havskjold@rocket.com

Partners

United Technologies Research Center

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Release Date:
03/02/2012