Ceramic Tube Heat Exchanger Technology Development for Indirect-Fired Gas Turbine Cycle

Abstract

Technology for pressurized, high-temperature, ceramic-tube heat exchangers is being established by materials evaluation, design, and fabrication studies followed by rig tests. Candidate ceramic materials have been surveyed for strength, environmental reactions with coal ash, and other design properties. Design and fabrication studies of joining methods were responsible for selection of the chosen heat exchanger configuration. A full-length, twenty eight-tube, 4.56 m (15 ft), ceramic-tube heat exchanger with an 11.43-cm (4.5 in.)-dia ceramic header has been successfully tested with a 1232°C (2250°F) outlet temperature at 689 kPa (100 psi). Hot side gas temperature during this test was 1370°C (2500°F). This module has been operated for approximately 125 hrs including operation with a pulverized coal combustor.