File:WASTE HEAT RECOVERY FROM A GAS TURBINE ENGINE USING A HEAT EXCHANGER AND ASSOCIATED CENTRIFUGAL COMPRESSOR VOLUTE DESIGN AND SIMULATION (IA wasteheatrecover1094562754).pdf

The U.S. Department of Defense has implemented an initiative to become more energy efficient across all services. The Naval Postgraduate School supported development towards this goal by studying the possibility of energy generation using waste heat recovery within shipboard gas turbine engine exhaust. This research included the development of a heat exchanger ultimately to use compressed CO2 as the working fluid to run a Brayton cycle. In support of this research, this thesis continued previous research regarding the Rolls Royce M250 helicopter engine and the heat exchanger previously designed. The heat exchanger was modified and the coils replaced using lessons learned from the previous iteration, and a second heat exchanger was built to match the first. The heat exchangers were installed on the engine’s dual exhaust in order to gather measurements to determine how they would affect engine performance. The heat exchangers were tested using nitrogen to determine effectiveness. Additionally, a centrifugal compressor volute was designed utilizing a commercial impeller. An ANSYS CFD model was developed and tested to create a map of the compressor’s performance utilizing air. The compressor was then manufactured using 3D printing technology and run using an independent electric motor so that the compressor and turbine can be run uncoupled at different speeds. This thesis was critical in the continuing development of a shipboard waste heat recovery system.