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Reduced LCoE CSP Through Utilizing Process Gas Lubricated Bearings in Oil-Free Drivetrains

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/2446547· OSTI ID:2446547
 [1];  [2];  [2]
  1. General Electric Co., Evandale, OH (United States). Aerospace; GE Aerospace
  2. General Electric Co., Evandale, OH (United States). Aerospace
The GE Research team proposed to advance the TRL level of process lubricated gas bearings from TRL3 based on the DE-EE0007109 program to TRL5 addressing a critical risk item that radial gas bearings can provide satisfactory rotordynamic performance in supporting a representative rotor for sCO2 Power Cycles. The ability to apply process lubricated gas bearings can provide cost savings with reduction of the associated lube oil systems and an efficiency benefit worth 2% efficiency for the turbomachinery configuration first presented in DE-EE005804. The process lubricated gas bearings are enablers for advanced hermetically sealed configurations that have the potential for significant advancement in sCO2 Power Cycles for CSP applications including the 2% efficiency increase referred to above in addition to OPEX savings with no need to refill the CO2 valued at 60k USD/yr and cost reductions of 50 USD/kWe all leading to a potential 0.95¢/kWh reduction positively impacting CSP goals.
Research Organization:
General Electric Co., Evandale, OH (United States). Aerospace
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office
DOE Contract Number:
EE0008738
OSTI ID:
2446547
Report Number(s):
DOE-GE--8738
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English