A 2-5 MW Supercritical CO2 Micro Tube Recuperator: Manufacturing, Testing, and Laser Weld Qualification

Default ARPA-E Project Image

Program:
HITEMMP
Award:
$1,419,417
Location:
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Status:
ACTIVE
Project Term:
09/18/2019 - 12/31/2023
Website:

Critical Need:

Heat exchangers are critical to efficient thermal energy exchange in a variety of applications, including electricity generation, transportation, petrochemical plants, waste heat recovery, and more. Heat exchangers designed to handle very high pressures and high temperatures simultaneously are more efficient and compact. Their design also requires finer heat transfer surface and fin features at the limits of existing manufacturing capabilities with high temperature materials. Durable, reliable, and cost-effective higher temperature and pressure heat exchangers that exceed current operating conditions could reduce fuel consumption, system footprint, and capital cost while boosting the performance of a variety of power generation and industrial processes.

Project Innovation + Advantages:

International Mezzo Technologies will design, manufacture, and test a compact, nickel-based superalloy supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) recuperator (a type of heat exchanger). The recuperator will incorporate laser-welded micro tubes and function at 800°C (1,472°F) and 275 bar (3,989 psi). Currently, the cost of recuperators for power systems operating in these conditions is prohibitive. Laser welding micro tubes offers a low-cost approach to fabricating heat exchangers, which could increase the economic competitiveness of sCO2 power cycles. Mezzo’s program could provide a pathway to manufacture relatively inexpensive heat exchangers for high temperature-high pressure applications.

Potential Impact:

HITEMMP projects will enable a revolutionary new class of heat exchangers and innovative approaches to advanced manufacturing with applications for a wide range of commercial and industrial energy producers and consumers.

Security:

High performance, efficient heat exchangers would increase industrial productivity, supporting domestic industries. The developed manufacturing techniques for high temperature materials could strengthen U.S. leadership in advanced manufacturing.

Environment:

More efficient electricity generation and industrial processes could significantly reduce emissions by enabling more efficient operations.

Economy:

HITEMMP technologies could enable more cost-effective, efficient, and compact modular power generation systems for multiple applications.

Contact

ARPA-E Program Director:
Dr. Philseok Kim
Project Contact:
Dr. Kevin Kelly
Press and General Inquiries Email:
ARPA-E-Comms@hq.doe.gov
Project Contact Email:
kelly@mezzotech.com

Related Projects

• Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) - High Energy Density Modular Heat Exchangers through Design, Materials Processing, and Manufacturing Innovations
• CompRex - Compact Heat Exchanger for High Temperature High Pressure Applications Using Advanced Cermet
• General Electric (GE) Global Research - Ultra Performance Heat Exchanger Enabled by Additive Technology (UPHEAT)
• International Mezzo Technologies - A 2-5 MW Supercritical CO2 Micro Tube Recuperator: Manufacturing, Testing, and Laser Weld Qualification
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Multiscale Porous High-Temperature Heat Exchanger Using Ceramic Co-Extrusion
• Michigan State University (MSU) - Heat-Exchanger Intensification through Powder Processing and Enhanced Design (HIPPED)
• Michigan Technological University (MTU) - High-density SSiC 3D-printed Lattices for Compact HTHP Aero-engine Recuperators
• Thar Energy - Recuperated Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Brayton Power Cycle System
• The Boeing Company - Highly Compact Metallic Heat Exchangers for Extreme Environments
• United Technologies Research Center (UTRC) - Low-Cost Glass Ceramic-Matrix Composite Heat Exchanger
• United Technologies Research Center (UTRC) - Additive, Topology-Optimized Ultra-Compact Heat Exchanger
• University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) - SHOTEAM: Superalloy Heat exchangers Optimized for Temperature Extremes and Additive Manufacturability
• University of Maryland (UMD) - Additively Manufactured High Efficiency and Low-Cost sCO2 Heat Exchangers
• University of Missouri - UHT-CAMANCHE: Ultra-High Temperature Ceramic Additively Manufactured Compact Heat Exchangers
• Vacuum Process Engineering (VPE) - Compact Diffusion Bonded Printed-Circuit Heat Exchanger Development Using Nickel Superalloys for Highly Power Dense and Efficient Modular Energy Production Systems

Release Date:
08/09/2018