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Reversible Counter-Rotating Turbomachine to
Enable Brayton-Laughlin CycleJim Kesseli - Brayton Energy, LLC
Choon Tan - Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Develop a near perfect reversible gas turbine engine for a
pumped thermal storage cycle.
Total project cost: $2.78M
Length 30 mo.
Project Vision
Pumped Thermal-Electric Storage: Sensitive to Imperfections
A Brayton cycle generator (gas turbine) combined with a Brayton cycle heat pump
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-07-31/alphabet-
wants-to-fix-renewable-energy-s-storage-problem-with-salt
Pumped thermal storage combines a
Brayton cycle generator with a Brayton
cycle heat pump. The energy storage is
captured in the hot and cold fluid storage
tanks.
The Brayton team worked for 3 years
developing high efficiency, but separate
Brayton heat pump and generator
turbomachines for Google-X (2015-2018).
(illustration)
Brayton’s ARPAe Project strives to greatly
simplify the conventional two turbomachine
design, developing a single ultra-high
efficiency turbomachine.
The Team
Brayton Energy, Hampton, NH
▸Turbomachinery for Advanced Energy Systems
– High efficiency gas turbine design
– Low emission combustion
– Compact, high temp
heat exchangers
– Renewable Energy;
Concentrated Solar Power,
Next-Gen Nuclear
Role: Theoretical aerodynamics,
multi-parameter optimization.
Mechanical design and test.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
▸MIT Gas Turbine Lab
– Established in 1947,
focused on the
advancement of
propulsion systems and
turbomachinery.
– Advanced theoretical
and computational
research.
Role: Detailed treatment of
aerodynamic losses in the
turbomachine.
March 13, 2019 Insert Presentation Name2
Objectives: Improved Turbomachinery & Secondary Losses
‣ Two goals
– Round trip efficiency: Elevate from low 50%’s to over 63%
– Make economic gains: Pathway to cost of $500/kWe, $50/kWh
‣ Program Execution: Parallel development: Analysis & Test
3Insert Presentation NameMarch 13, 2019
Phase Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 Q6 Q7 Q8 Q9
Theoretical aerodynamics
Meanline modeling
CFD iterations
Test Rig Design
Fabrication Simulation Test Model validation
MIT Theoretical Loss models Simulation and CFD
Bench Test
(300 kW)
50 MW
design
Q10
Challenges and Potential Partnerships
‣ Biggest Challenges:
– An isentropic embodiment yields 100% RTE, but a conventional turbomachine
and heat exchanger package approaches 50%. Innovation is necessary
– Achieve ultra-high isentropic efficiency from a reversible turbomachine
– Thermal storage; solar salt is the best-known hot storage media, and hexane
is the best cold sink media (~200K) - Alternatives sought
‣ TEA Goals: Develop a partnership
– MALTA Inc. – a recently launched start-up. Well-financed by Google-X and
Breakthrough Energy Ventures
– Other emerging international developers of pumped thermal-electric storage
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