Concentrating Solar Power
www.solar.energy.gov/sunshot/csp.html
10-MW Supercritical-CO2 Turbine
MOTIVATION
NATIONAL RENEWABLE Current state-of-the-art, molten-salt power towers have an
ENERGY LABORATORY operating limit of approximately 565°C. When combined
with a dry-cooled steam Rankine power cycle, these
PROGRAM: SunShot CSP R&D 2012
systems have a thermal-to-electric conversion efficiency of
approximately 41%. Transitioning to higher-temperature
TOPIC: Advanced Power Cycles
power cycles can improve plant efficiency, reduce the
LOCATION: Golden, Colorado
required size of the solar field and thermal storage system,
and decrease overall plant cost.
AWARD
Up to $8 million
AMOUNT: PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The research team intends to showcase the turbomachinery
PROJECT TERM: 2012–2015
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
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,
This project's team will build a prototype of the largest and highest-temperature
thereby accurately simulating real-world CSP operating
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 conditions. If successful, the research team will validate
components. Illustration from Dresser-Rand
an s-CO2 power turbine efficiency at a commercially viable
level, and outline the pathway to high-efficiency power
CONTACTS cycles that exceed 50% net thermal-to-electric
Project Leader: Partnering Organizations: conversion efficiency.
Dr. Craig Turchi • Sandia National Laboratories
craig.turchi@nrel.gov • University of Wisconsin
• Echogen Power Systems, LLC
• Abengoa Solar
• Electric Power Research Institute
• Barber-Nichols Incorporated
For more information, visit the project page at: www.solar.energy.gov/sunshot/csp_sunshotrnd_nrel_turbine.html.
eere.energy.gov • energy.gov/sunshot
DOE/GO-102012-3667 • September 2012
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