The use of supercritical CO2 (or sCO2) as the working fluid in closed-loop Brayton Cycles and advanced electrothermal energy storage systems has shown great promise in delivering electricity with high efficiency, creating fuel flexibility, and reducing power-plant size and cost. A number of new technology advancements, however, must be realized in order to make sCO2 a commercially viable solution. One of these advancements includes the compressor, which provides the pressure increase needed in the cycle.
The Notre Dame Turbomachinery Laboratory (NDTL) is collaborating with Echogen Power Systems on a new, multi-stage compressor component test program. The project, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, will take place in NDTL’s 10MW test cell (shown above). The experiments will include detailed measurements that will significantly advance our understanding of the design, performance, efficiency, and operability of sCO2 compressors for advanced power systems. Design efforts are underway, and initial tests will begin in 2021.
Please send inquiries to ndturbo@nd.edu.
By Jeongseek Kang
Published by Jasmin Avila