Net-shape Manufacturing of Fins for High Efficiency Heat Exchangers

Environmental pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fuel consumption has prompted
significant worldwide activity to find effective renewable/regenerative energy solutions. Solutions
where power is produced and waste heat from the exhaust is recuperated have great potential,
especially for distributed (decentralized) power generation (DPG). The latter approach reduces energy
losses that are caused by the absence of long-distance transmission lines and minimizes the risk of
widespread electrical failure. The development of high efficiency microturbines (MT) is critical to the
success of DPG and relies on efficient heat exchangers. Brayton Energy Canada has recently
developed a new proprietary design of high-efficiency heat exchangers that could allow MT to reach
higher thermal efficiency and thus quickly become a solution for DPG if parts (the fins) could be
manufacture in a cheaper way. The proposed project aims at developing a new manufacturing process
to produce the fins in a cheaper way.

Faculty Supervisor:

Bertrand Jodoin

Student:

Partner:

Brayton Energy Canada

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Utilities

University:

University of Ottawa

Program: