PCA TURBINE
The 2-year experimental validation of PCA’s novel turbine technology supported by a KTP project is close to first prototype test. The turbine, which will undergo aerodynamic testing in a warm air rig, will have potential applications in thermal energy recovery systems such as Organic Rankine Cycles as it will operate at high efficiency at low mass flow at low shaft speeds. Operating at about 10% of the speed of a conventional radial turbine it will not require a gearbox in low power applications. Depending on the working fluid it can be configured to run directly with a synchronous generator at power output down to about 100 kW. It does not require the multiple discs of an axial turbine.
PROGRESS
The turbine gas-path components have been manufactured. There are approximately 50 static pressure tapping locations within the stator passages for verification against the CFD calculations.
Rotor assembly
Close up on the blisk aerofoils
First and last stator nozzles
The bearing housing components are in manufacture with assembly expected during May 2025.