Automatic Integration in the Design of a Microturbine Compact Recuperator

The first phase of the development of an automatic methodology for the design process of small gas turbine recuperators is presented. The different software tools are selected in order to be managed, in a successive step of the research, by means of a design-optimization platform, according to the concept of Multi Disciplinary Optimization (MDO). The methodology has been developed integrating a geometrical parametric model of the heat transfer surfaces, built inside an industrial CAD, a three dimensional meshing tool and a CFD solver. Final objectives of the research will be an optimization process designed to maximize the heat exchange rate and to minimize costs and fluid dynamics losses. The paper deals with the parameterization technique and the numerical model validation.Copyright © 2006 by ASME