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Supercritical CO 2 Power Technology: Strengths but Challenges

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  • Michel Molière

    (Laboratoire Réactions et Génie des Procédés, Université de Lorraine, 54000 Nancy, France
    Institut Carnot de Bourgogne-Université de Technologie de Belfort Montbéliard (ICB-UTBM), 90000 Belfort, France)

  • Romain Privat

    (Laboratoire Réactions et Génie des Procédés, Université de Lorraine, 54000 Nancy, France)

  • Jean-Noël Jaubert

    (Laboratoire Réactions et Génie des Procédés, Université de Lorraine, 54000 Nancy, France)

  • Frédéric Geiger

    (Département Sciences et Énergies, UFR-STGI, Université de Franche-Comté, 90000 Belfort, France)

Abstract

In the late 1960s, a handful of inspired researchers predicted the great potential of supercritical CO 2 (“sCO 2 ”) cycles for the production of electricity and highlighted the prospects for dramatic reductions in component sizes and efficiency increases. Since then, considerable development programs have been deployed around the world to “tame” this new technology. Despite these efforts, in-depth engineering studies and extensive testing are still necessary today before viable designs can be released for large-scale industrial applications. This raises questions as to the reasons for this delay, this debate being rarely addressed in the current literature. This situation has motivated the present study. Trying to unravel such an intricate topic requires to understand the distinctive properties of supercritical CO 2 and the particular requirements of closed, high-pressure power systems. This article aims then to provide a broad overview of sCO 2 power cycles, highlighting their main advantages and limitations and reflecting the challenges associated with the industrialization of that technology which actually requires disruptive and innovative designs.

Suggested Citation

  • Michel Molière & Romain Privat & Jean-Noël Jaubert & Frédéric Geiger, 2024. "Supercritical CO 2 Power Technology: Strengths but Challenges," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-29, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:5:p:1129-:d:1346874
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Qiao Zhao & Mounir Mecheri & Thibaut Neveux & Romain Privat & Jean-Noël Jaubert & Yann Le Moullec, 2023. "Search for the Optimal Design of a Supercritical-CO 2 Brayton Power Cycle from a Superstructure-Based Approach Implemented in a Commercial Simulation Software," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-31, July.
    2. Binotti, Marco & Astolfi, Marco & Campanari, Stefano & Manzolini, Giampaolo & Silva, Paolo, 2017. "Preliminary assessment of sCO2 cycles for power generation in CSP solar tower plants," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 1007-1017.
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    1. Liu, Yunxia & Zhao, Yuanyang & Yang, Qichao & Liu, Guangbin & Li, Liansheng, 2024. "Research on compression process and compressors in supercritical carbon dioxide power cycle systems: A review," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 297(C).

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