10-MWSupercritical-CO2Turbine.PDFVIP

Concentrating Solar Power /sunshot/csp.html 10-MW Supercritical-CO2 Turbine NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY PROGRAM: TOPIC: SunShot CSP RD 2012 Advanced Power Cycles LOCATION: Golden, Colorado AWARD AMOUNT: Up to $8 million MOTIVATION Current state-of-the-art, molten-salt power towers have an operating limit of approximately 565°C. When combined with a dry-cooled steam Rankine power cycle, these systems have a thermal-to-electric conversion efficiency of approximately 41%. Transitioning to higher-temperature power cycles can improve plant efficiency, reduce the required size of the solar field and thermal storage system, and decrease overall plant cost. PROJECT DESCRIPTION PROJECT TERM: 2012–2015 The research team intends to showcase the turbomachinery for a new cycle—the supercritical carbon dioxide (s-CO2) Brayton cycle. To establish the true potential of this power cycle, the researchers are working to validate the operation of a large-scale prototype at temperatures and conditions relevant to concentrating solar power (CSP) systems. IMPACT This projects team will build a prototype of the largest and highest-temperature s-CO2 closed Brayton power cycle turbine ever constructed. The use of carbon dioxide instead of steam allows higher power-cycle efficiency and more compact cycle components. Illustration from Dresser-Rand CONTACTS Project Leader: Dr. Craig Turchi craig.turchi@ Partnering Organizations: ? Sandia National Laboratories ? University of Wisconsin ? Echogen Power Systems, LLC ? Abengoa Solar ? Electric Power Research Institute ? Barber-Nichols Incorporated Project members are building the largest and highest temperature s-CO2 closed Brayton power cycle yet constructed. The cycle is being optimized and tested at conditions representing dry cooling in desert environments, thereby accurately simulating real-world CSP operating conditions. If successful, the research team will validate an s-CO2 power turbine efficiency at a commercially viable le