Waste Heat-Powered Gas Compressor

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Program:
OPEN 2012
Award:
$8,358
Location:
Kingwood, Texas
Status:
ALUMNI
Project Term:
05/01/2013 - 02/17/2014
Website:
TBD

Technology Description:

eNova is developing a gas compressor powered by waste heat from the exhaust of a gas turbine. A conventional gas turbine facility releases the exhaust heat produced during operation into the air—this heat is a waste by-product that can be used to improve power generation system efficiency. eNova’s gas compressor converts the exhaust waste heat from the simple cycle gas turbine to compressed air for injection into the turbine, thereby lessening the burden on the turbine’s air compressor. This new compressor design is ideal for use with a remote gas turbine—such as that typically used in the natural gas industry to compress pipeline natural gas—with limited options for waste heat recovery and access to high voltage power lines and water.

Potential Impact:

If successful, eNova’s gas compressor would reduce remote simple-cycle gas turbine fuel consumption up to 28%.

Security:

Greater use of thermal fuels would reduce U.S. reliance on fossil fuels—strengthening America's energy security.

Environment:

Thermal fuel technologies will have zero net greenhouse gas emissions and can also reduce fossil fuel consumption—helping curb production of carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to global climate change, while enabling the development of transformational technologies for a range of applications.

Economy:

Thermal fuels could decrease the dependence on foreign oil imports, spurring economic growth in new thermal fuel-related industries in the U.S.

Contact

ARPA-E Program Director:
Dr. Bryan Willson
Project Contact:
Mr. Bryan McQuary
Press and General Inquiries Email:
ARPA-E-Comms@hq.doe.gov
Project Contact Email:
bmcquary@e-novainc.com

Partners

Southwest Research Institute
MIB Engineering
Los Alamos National Laboratory

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Release Date:
03/02/2012