Intercooling and Recuperation

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ICR technology promises significantly higher efficiencies , flatter fuel consumption curves and improved power to weight ratios for gas turbine propulsion plants.

The system will initially be fitted to warships.

A 30% fuel saving over current simple cycle marine turbines is claimed. Lower manpower requirement, enhanced reliability, reduced exhaust emissions and low airbourne noise are also pointed out.

Components of proven reliability are used such as the RR RB211 and Trent turbines.

Schematic of recuperative plant

An ICR cycle features the following process; Intake air compressed in a low pressure compressor is cooled by rejecting heat via an on-engine intercooler before entering the high pressure compressor. This reduces the work required to compress the air, improving HP spool efficiency and raising net output power. Intercooling also serves to reduce the HP compressor discharge temperature which increases the effectiveness of the recuperator. The recuperator preheats the combustion air by recovering waster energy from the exhaust, thus improving the overall cycle efficiency. The result is reduced fuel consumption over the whole power range.

Low power efficiency is further improved by the use of the power turbines variable nozzles. These maintain a constant power turbine entry temperature which, in turn, maintains recuperator gas side entry conditions and improves recuperator effectiveness as power reduced