Origin and Status of the DoE Heat Exchanger Technology Program To Improve Energy Conversion Efficiency

In 1976, the Office of Conservation of ERDA sponsored a survey to identify deficiencies in heat exchanger technology affecting the timely development, demonstration and commercialization of advanced energy recovery and conversion systems of interest to Conservation. Heat exchanger deficiencies identified in this survey have been grouped into four categories: (1) performance and reliability penalties inflicted by the heat exchanger environment (i.e., those fluids in contact with the heat exchanger); (2) design and construction of efficient/reliable high temperature heat exchangers (material temperatures exceeding 1800°F); (3) poor economics in recovering low grade waste heat; (4) lack of information on the long-term performance and reliability of newly developed heat exchangers. The Heat Exchanger Technology (HET) Program was created in 1976 in response to these needs. Today, the HET Program resides within the Office of Fossil Energy Technology of the Department of Energy. Although certain HET projects relate directly to coal technology needs, the primary thrust of this program is, as it was originally, conservation oriented. This paper will (a) discuss the origin and objectives of the HET Program, (b) describe projects comprising the HET Program, (c) present a status report on current activities.