The use of ceramic components is a key enabler for achieving major performance increases of microturbines. A key component is then the ceramic heat exchanger. The American company Wilson TurboPower www.wilsonturbopower.com is developing such a heat exchanger.

Compower has received support from the Swedish Energy Authority under the umbrella of the US-Sweden Implementing Arrangement on Renewable Energy Cooperation to do a pre-study of a project in which Compower’s present 5 kW microturbine uses Wilson’s new advanced heat exchanger design together with some other ceramic components.

Such a concept is estimated to have capability to reach an electrical efficiency around 35% (compared with 27% for metal concepts) and with the possibility to use a wide range of renewable fuels.

This would open new market applications for Compower´s microturbine products, including use in hybrid vehicles.