2022 Horizons Symposium

Lou Curcio
Senior Engineering Associate
ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company

Lou Curcio has over 30 years of experience in design, troubleshooting and repair of all major types of heat exchangers. Lou has been involved in various research and development projects and plant engineering assignments ranging from start-ups to turnarounds as well as major capital projects for ExxonMobil’s global affiliates. He graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a Masters in Mechanical Engineering and from Stevens Institute of Technology with a Master of Science in Technology Management. He is a co-inventor for two U.S. patents and has co-authored papers on enhanced heat transfer and fouling of heat exchangers.

ABSTRACT

* This abstract was co-authored by Lou Curcio (ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company) and Chris Howard (FuelCell Energy, Inc.).

FuelCell Energy’s proprietary technology uses carbonate fuel cells to efficiently capture and concentrate carbon dioxide streams from large industrial sources. Combustion exhaust is directed to the fuel cell, which produces power while capturing and concentrating carbon dioxide for permanent storage. To further increase the efficiency of high-temperature fuel cells, it is important to integrate high-effectiveness heat recovery systems within the modular design. As part of ExxonMobil’s partnership with FuelCell Energy, two pilot-scale recuperators were designed, fabricated and tested. Process information and performance data were obtained for use in the design of MW-scale high temperature recuperators. The results of the pilot-scale high temperature recuperator tests demonstrated effective heat recovery and device integrity.