DOE Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants funded the essential research and development that advanced the capabilities of TOMO technology, as well as the work that led to the technology’s manufacturing readiness. The Office of Fossil Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) managed the SBIR grants.

Gas turbines, which are used to produce power for industrial, utility, and aerospace applications, consist sequentially of compressor, combustor, and turbine sections. Incoming air is compressed to high pressure in the compressor section, and then heated to high temperature by the combustion of fuel in the combustor section. The high-temperature, high-pressure gas is then expanded through a series of rotor-mounted airfoils in the turbine section, converting the energy of the gas into mechanical work. Improved airfoils can tolerate higher gas temperatures and/or use less cooling air, resulting in improved energy efficiency.

The TOMO manufacturing platform enables rapid, cost-effective development and production of high performance products made from metals, ceramics, polymers and composite material systems. For tool production, lithographic etching and assembly are combined with CNC machining to produce tooling with highly complex three-dimensional features. A proprietary molding and casting process is then used to produce parts.

Overview of the TOMO process. Click to enlarge.

Mikro Systems received DOE support to apply its TOMO technology to a range of turbine components, with the goal of improving the efficiency and performance of gas turbines used in stationary power generation. The technology enables more sophisticated designs with improved cooling characteristics, which leads to higher operating temperatures and improved efficiency. In addition to enabling designs that were previously impossible to manufacture, the technology promises to reduce time-to-market for future design enhancements through reduced production lead times and more efficient manufacturing processes.

Mikro Systems’ growth strategy is to apply their technology to a wide range of applications, from next-generation turbines for use in integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) and natural gas combined cycle power plants, to smaller industrial and military aviation engines. Rolls-Royce and the US Department of Defense, among others, are now funding work by Mikro Systems, with Mikro’s manufacturing readiness playing a key role in initiating this work.

The technology is also contributing to Siemens Energy’s ARRA-funded, NETL-managed project to develop hydrogen turbines for coal-based IGCC power generation that will improve efficiency, reduce emissions, lower costs, and allow for carbon capture and storage.