Mapping the Design Space of a Recuperated, Recompression, Precompression Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Power Cycle with Intercooling, Improved Regeneration, and Reheat Andrew Schroder Mark Turner University of Cincinnati
Outline Overview of Supercritical CO 2 Power Cycles Proposed System Layout Variable Property Heat Engine Cycle Analysis Code Heat Exchangers with Nonlinear and Dissimilar Specific Heats Results of the Design Space Exploration Conclusions
About Supercritical CO 2 (S-CO 2 ) Power Cycles Closed loop configuration. Main compressor inlet temperature and pressure are at or near the critical point. Carbon dioxide is the proposed working fluid because it is cheap, inert, and has a critical temperature of 34K (31 C), which is near typical ambient temperatures of 294K (21 C). High system pressures occur due to the high critical pressure of carbon dioxide (7.4 MPa). Possible applications: Base load terrestrial electrical power generation Marine, Aviation, and Spacecraft electrical power generation Possible Configurations: Bottoming cycle using waste heat from a traditional open loop gas turbine (traditional Brayton cycle) Primary cycle with nuclear and solar energy heat sources Primary cycle with the combustion of fossil fuels as a heat source
State of the Art The earliest reference to a supercritical carbon dioxide power cycle is that of a patent by Sulzer in 1948. Vaclav Dostal revived interest in supercritical carbon dioxide power cycles with the publication of his doctoral thesis in 24. Sandia National Laboratories has developed two supercritical CO 2 test rigs with their contractor, Barber-Nichols and has successfully achieved startup of both a main compressor/turbine and recompressor/turbine loop. Their efforts are focused towards nuclear power applications. Echogen Power Systems has been developing an engine for waste heat recovery applications. The United States Department of Energy began development of engines for concentrating solar power applications in mid 212.
Carbon Dioxide - c p vs Temperature 55: Cp vs. Temperature plot: carbon dioxide 15. 8.4 MPa 1. 7.4 MPa 9.4 MPa Cp (kj/kg-k) 6.4 MPa 1.4 MPa 5. 5.4 MPa 11.4 MPa 12.4 MPa 2.4 MPa. 2.4 MPa 1.4 MPa 3. 4. Temperature (K)
Supercritical CO 2 Power Cycle - Strengths Low Pressure Ratio (optimal overall pressure 3 to 8) Large amounts of recuperation possible. Low back work ratio Decreased sensitivity of compressor/turbine efficiency on cycle efficiency. S-CO 2-35% Rankine - 2% Open Loop Brayton - 4-8% High Power Density High pressure and high molecular weight. Fluid densities range from 23 kg/m 3 to 788 kg/m 3. Narrow heat addition and heat rejection temperatures does not require evaporative cooling, but still approximates a Carnot cycle better than an open loop Brayton cycle. High real cycle efficiency predicted >5% @ 923K (65 C) turbine inlet temperature
Supercritical CO 2 Power Cycle - Weaknesses Nonlinear specific heat mismatch causes difficulties exchanging heat between high and low pressure sides at lower temperatures. Closed loop design presents additional system complexities. High pressures present increased structural loading and seal leakage issues. 2MPa to 3MPa maximum pressure typically proposed Nonlinear property variations near the critical point present turbomachinery design complications as well as challenges maintaining off design operability. High working fluid densities prohibit efficient low power, low speed, low cost prototypes to be developed.
Proposed System Layout Three compressors and several flow splits are used to help mitigate heat transfer issues due to specific heat mismatches. Four shafts are utilized to better match optimal operating speeds of each turbomachinery component. Due to the small size of the turbomachinery, as well as the use of multiple shafts, each assembly (except for the power turbine and generator) can be placed inside a pressure vessel to avoid the need for high speed, high pressure seals. Tanks and a blow down startup procedure are used to eliminate the need to attach a motor to the higher speed shafts.
Proposed System Layout - Temperature Entropy Diagram Temperature [K] 1, 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 Constant Pressure Lines 1.3MPa 1.MPa 25.21MPa 25.16MPa 25.16MPa 24.93MPa 14.65MPa 14.61MPa 5.84MPa 5.6MPa Critical Temperature: 34.13K Critical Pressure: 7.377MPa 23 1 1 Cycle Efficiency: 51.94% Line widths scaled by mass fraction. 4 14 15 13 1, 1,5 2, 2,5 3, Entropy [J/(kg)] 12 11 5 6 7 8 9 5, 4,58 4,16 3,74 3,32 2,9 2,48 2,6 1,64 1,22 8 c p, Specific Heat at Constant Pressure [J/(kg*K)]
Proposed System Layout - Temperature Entropy Diagram Temperature [K] 1, 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 Constant Pressure Lines 1.3MPa 1.MPa 25.21MPa 25.16MPa 25.16MPa 24.93MPa 14.65MPa 14.61MPa 5.84MPa 5.6MPa Critical Temperature: 34.13K Critical Pressure: 7.377MPa 7. 3. 1. 7. 23 1 1 Cycle Efficiency: 51.94% Line widths scaled by mass fraction. 3. 4 14 15 13 25. 1, 1,5 2, 2,5 3, Entropy [J/(kg)] 12 5. 11 25. 5 6 7 5. 8 9 1,3 1,2 1,1 1, 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Density [kg/m 3 ]
Proposed System Layout - Temperature Pressure Diagram Temperature [K] 1, 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 Gas Vapor 13 9 5 7 12 1 11 14 15 Cycle Efficiency: 51.94% Line widths scaled by mass fraction. 1 8 Supercritical Fluid Liquid 5 1 15 2 25 3 Pressure [MPa] 6 4 32 5, 4,58 4,16 3,74 3,32 2,9 2,48 2,6 1,64 1,22 8 c p, Specific Heat at Constant Pressure [J/(kg*K)]
Proposed System Layout - Temperature Entropy Diagram Temperature [K] 1, 9 8 7 6 5 Constant Pressure Lines 1.6MPa 1.MPa 2.47MPa 2.39MPa 2.39MPa 2.19MPa 8.24MPa 8.18MPa 2.75MPa 2.52MPa Critical Temperature: 34.13K Critical Pressure: 7.377MPa Cycle Efficiency: 47.31% Line widths scaled by mass fraction. 3 4 5 6 7 1 8 9 4 2 14 11 3 1 15 13 12 1, 1,5 2, 2,5 3, 3,5 4, Entropy [J/(kg)]
Variable Property Heat Engine Cycle Analysis Code Cycle analysis code created from scratch. Developed with Python, NumPy, SciPy, and matplotlib. Variable fluid properties are utilized. i.e. h = h(t, p), c p = c p (T, p), s = s(t, p) Fluid property data used from REFPROP Specialized 1-D counterflow heat exchanger model was developed to account for variable fluid properties, yet maintaining high solution speed. Cycle iteratively solved for unknown pressures. Inputs include maximum temperature, minimum temperature, compressor pressure ratios, turbomachinery component efficiencies, heat exchanger pressure drop, main compressor inlet pressure, and mass fraction for flow splits. Design space for the inputs is explored in parallel and can run on as many processors as are available.
Variable Property Heat Engine Cycle Analysis Code Limitations and Assumptions Currently the code only supports gases and supercritical fluids. Liquids and and liquid vapor mixtures are not yet supported. Heat source currently modeled is that of a constant heat flux (i.e. solar) or a highly regenerated combustion system (heater efficiency is assumed to be 1%). Pumping power for the ambient pressure side of the heaters and coolers are assumed to be low.
Heat Exchangers - Overview The current heat exchanger model assumes the limiting case where the convection coefficient is very high. The temperature difference between the high pressure to the low pressure side of the heat exchanger is assumed to be purely due to specific heat mismatches. At at least one point in the heat exchanger there will be approximately zero temperature difference between the high and low pressure side. Pressure drop Pressure drop is not computed based on an assumed geometry, but is approximated to be linearly dependent upon temperature drop in the heat exchanger. Temperature drop is assumed to be related to the length of the heat exchanger. The linear relationship between temperature drop and pressure drop is another parameter varied as part of the design space exploration. Pressure drop is assumed to be low, allowing the present approximation to be acceptable.
Heat Exchangers - Temperature and Specific Heat Variation 4 35 3 Cooled Side Inlet: Temperature=45.K, Pressure=8.5MPa, Mass Fraction=1. Heated Side Inlet: Temperature=35.K, Pressure=18.5MPa, Mass Fraction=.6 Pressure Drop=5 Pa/K, Inlet Pressure Ratio=2.2, φ=.6 2 c p,cooled c p,heated C Cooled C Heated 15 T C Heated /C Cooled 1 2. 1.5 c p, [J/(kg*K)] and C, [J/(kg Cooled *K)] 25 2 15 1 T =T Cooled T Heated, [K] 1 5 1..5 Heat Capacity Ratio, C Heated /C Cooled 5 3 32 34 36 38 4 42 44 Temperature, Cooled Side, [K] 3 32 34 36 38 4 42 44 Temperature, Cooled Side, [K].
Heat Exchangers - Temperature and Specific Heat Variation 1 8 Cooled Side Inlet: Temperature=35.K, Pressure=1.MPa, Mass Fraction=1. Heated Side Inlet: Temperature=35.K, Pressure=1.MPa, Mass Fraction=1. Pressure Drop= Pa/K, Inlet Pressure Ratio=1., φ=1. 1 c p,cooled c p,heated C Cooled C Heated 8 T C Heated /C Cooled 1 2. 1.5 c p, [J/(kg*K)] and C, [J/(kg Cooled *K)] 6 4 2 T =T Cooled T Heated, [K] 6 4 2 1..5 Heat Capacity Ratio, C Heated /C Cooled 3 31 32 33 34 35 Temperature, Cooled Side, [K] 2. 3 31 32 33 34 35 Temperature, Cooled Side, [K]
Heat Exchangers - Temperature and Specific Heat Variation 1 8 Cooled Side Inlet: Temperature=45.K, Pressure=1.MPa, Mass Fraction=1. Heated Side Inlet: Temperature=35.K, Pressure=1.MPa, Mass Fraction=.6 Pressure Drop=5 Pa/K, Inlet Pressure Ratio=1., φ=.63 6 c p,cooled c p,heated C Cooled C Heated 5 T C Heated /C Cooled 1 1..8 c p, [J/(kg*K)] and C, [J/(kg Cooled *K)] 6 4 T =T Cooled T Heated, [K] 4 3 2.6.4 Heat Capacity Ratio, C Heated /C Cooled 2 1.2 3 32 34 36 38 4 42 44 Temperature, Cooled Side, [K] 3 32 34 36 38 4 42 44 Temperature, Cooled Side, [K].
Heat Exchangers - Temperature and Specific Heat Variation 3 25 Cooled Side Inlet: Temperature=35.K, Pressure=25.MPa, Mass Fraction=1. Heated Side Inlet: Temperature=31.K, Pressure=5.MPa, Mass Fraction=1.65 Pressure Drop= Pa/K, Inlet Pressure Ratio=.2, φ=1. 1 c p,cooled c p,heated C Cooled C Heated 8 T C Heated /C Cooled 1 2. 1.5 c p, [J/(kg*K)] and C, [J/(kg Cooled *K)] 2 15 1 T =T Cooled T Heated, [K] 6 4 2 1..5 Heat Capacity Ratio, C Heated /C Cooled 5 31 315 32 325 33 335 34 345 35 Temperature, Cooled Side, [K] 2. 31 315 32 325 33 335 34 345 35 Temperature, Cooled Side, [K]
Heat Exchangers - Temperature and Specific Heat Variation 3 25 Cooled Side Inlet: Temperature=45.K, Pressure=5.MPa, Mass Fraction=1. Heated Side Inlet: Temperature=35.K, Pressure=25.MPa, Mass Fraction=.56 Pressure Drop= Pa/K, Inlet Pressure Ratio=5., φ=.96 1 c p,cooled c p,heated C Cooled C Heated 8 T C Heated /C Cooled 1 2. 1.5 c p, [J/(kg*K)] and C, [J/(kg Cooled *K)] 2 15 1 T =T Cooled T Heated, [K] 6 4 2 1..5 Heat Capacity Ratio, C Heated /C Cooled 5 3 32 34 36 38 4 42 44 Temperature, Cooled Side, [K] 2 3 32 34 36 38 4 42 44 Temperature, Cooled Side, [K].
Heat Exchangers - Temperature and Specific Heat Variation 3 25 Cooled Side Inlet: Temperature=45.K, Pressure=5.MPa, Mass Fraction=1. Heated Side Inlet: Temperature=35.K, Pressure=25.MPa, Mass Fraction=1. Pressure Drop=5 Pa/K, Inlet Pressure Ratio=5., φ=.55 8 c p,cooled c p,heated C Cooled C Heated 7 6 T C Heated /C Cooled 1 3. 2.5 c p, [J/(kg*K)] and C, [J/(kg Cooled *K)] 2 15 1 T =T Cooled T Heated, [K] 5 4 3 2 2. 1.5 1. Heat Capacity Ratio, C Heated /C Cooled 5 1.5 3 32 34 36 38 4 42 44 Temperature, Cooled Side, [K] 3 32 34 36 38 4 42 44 Temperature, Cooled Side, [K].
Design Space Exploration Dataset I - 2,155,392 permutations All Parameters - Coarse Exploration Parameter Minimum Maximum Number of Values Value Plotted PreCompressor Pressure Ratio 1. 4. 6 Optimal Main Compressor Pressure Ratio 1.1 4.1 6 Optimal Recompression Fraction..991 4 Optimal Low Temperature Recuperator Main Fraction High Pressure Component.1.991 4 Optimal Mass Fraction Main Compressor Inlet Pressure 6 MPa 1 MPa 6 Optimal Maximum Temperature 798K 923K 3 923K Minimum Temperature 32K 333K 3 32K Main Compressor Isentropic Efficiency.75 1. 4.85 PreCompressor Isentropic Efficiency.8.95 3.875 ReCompressor Isentropic Efficiency.8.95 3.875 Power Turbine Isentropic Efficiency.89.93 3.93 Main/Re/Pre Compressor Turbine Isentropic Efficiency.84.89 3.89 Heat Exchanger Pressure Drop 5 Pa/K Pa/K 2 5 Pa/K
Design Space Exploration Dataset II - 1,8, permutations Fixed Component Efficiencies and Max/Min Temp, Other Parameters Refined Parameter Minimum Maximum Number of Values Value Plotted PreCompressor Pressure Ratio 1. 4. 2 Optimal Main Compressor Pressure Ratio 1.1 4.1 2 Optimal Recompression Fraction..991 15 Optimal Low Temperature Recuperator Main Fraction High Pressure Component.1.991 15 Optimal Mass Fraction Main Compressor Inlet Pressure 6 MPa 1 MPa 2 Optimal Maximum Temperature 923K 923K 1 923K Minimum Temperature 32K 32K 1 32K Main Compressor Isentropic Efficiency.85.85 1.85 PreCompressor Isentropic Efficiency.875.875 1.875 ReCompressor Isentropic Efficiency.875.875 1.875 Power Turbine Isentropic Efficiency.93.93 1.93 Main/Re/Pre Compressor Turbine Isentropic Efficiency.89.89 1.89 Heat Exchanger Pressure Drop 5 Pa/K 5 Pa/K 1 5 Pa/K
Design Space Exploration Results - Dataset II Cycle Efficiency vs PreCompressor and Main Compressor Pressure Ratios Main Compressor Pressure Ratio 4. 3.5 3. 2.5 2. 1.5 Maximum Efficiency=51.94%.6.57.54.51.48.45.42.39.36.33 Cycle Efficiency 1. 1.5 2. 2.5 3. 3.5 4. PreCompressor Pressure Ratio.3
Design Space Exploration Results - Dataset II Optimal Recompression Fraction vs PreCompressor and Main Compressor Pressure Ratios Main Compressor Pressure Ratio 4. 3.5 3. 2.5 2. 1.5 1. 1.5 2. 2.5 3. 3.5 4. PreCompressor Pressure Ratio 1..9.8.7.6.5.4.3.2.1. Recompression Fraction at Maximum Efficiency
Design Space Exploration Results - Dataset II Low Temperature Recuperator Main Fraction High Pressure Component Mass Fraction at Optimal Cycle Efficiency vs PreCompressor and Main Compressor Pressure Ratios Main Compressor Pressure Ratio 4. 3.5 3. 2.5 2. 1.5 1. 1.5 2. 2.5 3. 3.5 4. PreCompressor Pressure Ratio.9.81.72.63.54.45.36.27.18.9. Low Temperature Recuperator Main Fraction High Pressure Component Mass Fraction at Maximum Efficiency
Design Space Exploration Results - Dataset II Cycle Efficiency vs Recompression Fraction.52 Maximum Efficiency=51.94%.51 Cycle Efficiency.5.49.48.47..2.4.6.8 1. Recompression Fraction
Design Space Exploration Results - Dataset II Cycle Efficiency vs Main Compressor Inlet Pressure.52 Maximum Efficiency=51.94%.515.51 Cycle Efficiency.55.5.495.49.485.48.6.65.7.75.8.85.9.95 1. Main Compressor Inlet Pressure [Pa] 1e7
Design Space Exploration Results - Dataset I Cycle Efficiency vs Maximum and Minimum Temperature Minimum Temperature [K] 332 33 328 326 324 322 Maximum Efficiency=5.57%.6.57.54.51.48.45.42.39.36.33 Cycle Efficiency 32 8 82 84 86 88 9 92 Maximum Temperature [K].3
Design Space Exploration Results - Dataset I Cycle Efficiency vs Max and Min Temperature and Main and ReCompressor Efficiency.51 Maximum Efficiency=5.57%.51 Maximum Efficiency=5.57%.5.55.49 Cycle Efficiency.48.47 Cycle Efficiency.5.495.46.45.49.44 78 8 82 84 86 88 9 92 94 Maximum Temperature [K].485 32 322 324 326 328 33 332 334 Minimum Temperature [K].514 Maximum Efficiency=51.34%.512 Maximum Efficiency=51.18%.512.51.51.58 Cycle Efficiency.58.56 Cycle Efficiency.56.54.54.52.52.5.5.75.8.85.9.95 1. 1.5 Main Compressor Isentropic Efficiency.498.8.82.84.86.88.9.92.94.96 ReCompressor Isentropic Efficiency
Web Based Graphical User Interface
Conclusions Supercritical CO 2 Power Cycles have the potential for efficiencies of 51.94% with a maximum heat source temperature of 923K (65 C) and a minimum coolant temperature of 32K (47 C). A new system layout has been presented which may help to eliminate some of the design challenges with supercritical carbon dioxide engines. Highly nonlinear fluid properties present significant challenges in cycle and component design. A cycle analysis code has been developed, along with a web based interface for interactively exploring the design space. These tools can be continually expanded and improved to better understand supercritical carbon dioxide power cycles.
Questions? http://andyschroder.com/co2cycle/