Gas Turbine Engine Exhaust Waste Heat Recovery Using Supercritical CO2 Brayton Cycle With Thermoelectric Generator Technology

This presentation will discuss the results of the feasibility analysis of a Brayton cycle-based, supercritical CO₂ system that recovers waste heat from an MT30 gas turbine used in marine applications. The analysis also included the use of thermoelectric generator (TEG) devices that are one of several direct energy conversion methods known to be applicable to waste heat recovery. The analysis was conducted by Concepts NREC, in collaboration with the Maine Maritime Academy and their principal consultant, Thermoelectric Power Systems, LLC. The feasibility analysis was conducted under Navy SBIR Proposal Number N103-229-0533, entitled “Gas Turbine Engine Exhaust Waste Heat Recovery Shipboard Module Development”. The objective of the project was to improve the energy efficiency of the MT30 prime-mover power system for the Navy and other commercial vessels. The performance goal for the energy recovery system was to improve the fuel economy of the prime mover by 20% when significantly part-loaded.