Prospect and Challenges for Developing and Marketing a Brayton-Cycle Based Power Genset Gas-Turbine Using Supercritical CO2: Part II \u2014The Turbomachinery Components Design Challenges

Abstract Since the 1960s the idea of using supercritical dioxide (S-CO2) as the working fluid in a Brayton power-cycle has been entertained [1]. But due to technical limitations of the time, the idea did not progress forward much. Presently, due to the availability of more knowhow, better technological platform, and advanced analysis tools, many believe it is time to revisit the idea of using supercritical dioxide (s-CO2) as the working fluid for power generation. Among various working fluids, s-CO2 has several significant advantages over other fluids. Primarily the attractive qualities of s-CO2 are high efficiency, much smaller turbomachinery size and plant footprint (and therefore lower capital cost), and the potential for full carbon capture. However, the realization of these benefits will depend on overcoming several technical, engineering and materials science challenges. Even though theoretically, the concept is highly attractive and promising, there is yet a major hurdle to be passed, namely the designing, developing, and testing of a reasonable size (10MWe or higher) prototype of a s-CO2 Brayton-cycle-based power gas turbine. This paper, Part II, in two parts reviews the s-CO2 Brayton cycle technologies for power generation and critically assesses the recent challenges and development status. This present paper (Part-II) in two parts focuses on the turbomachinery components (specifically the compressor) design and challenges.