A new high temperature turbine was developed and tested for use a sCO~2~ closed-loop recompression Brayton cycle. This turbine was developed for Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) applications (700+ºC) with funding from the US DOE Sunshot initiative and industry partners, but its application includes traditional heat sources such as natural gas, coal, and nuclear power.  Traditional Rankine steam cycles exhibit thermal efficiencies in the 35-40% range (as high as 45% for advanced ultra-supercritical steam cycles).  The SCO~2~ cycle can approach 50% thermal efficiency using externally fired heat sources.  Furthermore, this cycle is also well suited for bottoming cycle, waste heat recovery applications.   The lower thermal mass and increased power density of the sCO~2~ cycle, as compared to steam-based systems, enables the development of compact, high-efficiency power blocks that can respond quickly to transient environmental changes and frequent start-up/shut-down operations, a particular advantage for solar, waste heat, and ship-board applications.  The power density of the turbine is significantly greater than traditional steam turbines and is rivaled only by liquid rocket engine turbo pumps, such as those used on the Space Shuttle Main Engines.  This paper describes the design, commissioning, and testing of the10 MWe turbine in a 1 MWe test facility including description of pressure containment, rotordynamics, thermal management, rotor aero and mechanical design, shaft-end and casing seals, bearings, and couplings. Technology readiness of the turbine and heat exchanger technology will be discussed. 


Development and Testing of a 10 MWe Supercritical CO2 Turbine in a 1 MWe Flow Loop

Division / Sponsor:
International Gas Turbine Institute (IGTI)

Paper Proceedings: https://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/GT/GT2020/volume/84058

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