Development of a micro ORC power unit using digital prototyping methods

Abstract

The development of the prototype of the ORC micro turbine includes already in the design phase the creation of a digital prototype based on the use of computational simulations, especially the CFD flow program Simcenter STAR CCM +, strength and rotor-dynamic FEA analyses of system behaviour Simcenter 3D. This is followed by the optimization of the device by increasing its efficiency and improving the mechanical properties of the system. For this purpose, we used the optimization program HEEDS and the topological optimization method Simcenter 3D. This was followed by the production of a prototype, where 3D printing technology was used to produce turbine housing moulds and other components. A huge attention of this contribution is devoted to these additive production processes.