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Development of Supercritical Carbon dioxide Turbomachinery

Subcategory (under Clean Energy): Solar (Thermal)
Technology Readiness Level (TRL): TRL 6 - Full prototype at scale
Technology Outline (Process Description)

Carbon dioxide is the future ‘steam’ in power plants. CO2 when heated above 31.1 Deg. C at 73.9 bar enters into its supercritical state (sCO2). In its supercritical state, it has the density of a liquid yet behaves like a gas. From an engineering perspective, unique properties of sCO2 provide tremendous opportunities for power generation with a significantly smaller footprint than super critical steam. Successful development of the CO2 technology will not only help in reducing the carbon footprint but also reduce the dependence on potable water. The challenge for India is to develop a pilot scale demonstration using locally available materials and technologies used in steam turbines. High operating speeds (60,000-100,000 rpm) of sCO2 turbomachinery make it an engineering challenge to realize the technology at small scales.

The funding from DST has led to the successful indigenous development of India’s first sCO2 power block. The remarkable size of sCO2 turbine with a diameter of 1.5 cm generating 100 kW of electric power is shown in the figures below.

Salient Features/Advantages

Supercritical CO2 Brayton power blocks occupy 1/10th the footprint of a similar capacity conventional steam power block. sCO2 power block has lower lower thermal inertia, and therefore is ideal for industrial waste heat recovery and bottoming cycle for gas turbine applications. The quick start and stop time scales to reach steady state operation make sCO2 power blocks an ideal for peak load management when paired with a renewable power plant.

Key Outcomes

Development of the sCO2 turbomachinery has not only have helped address the technology gaps but also led to multiple technology offshoots. Some of these include a) non-permanent magnet machines for EV’s and aircraft generators, b) New material processing and manufacturing technologies for fuel cells heat exchangers, c) Novel sealing arrangements for high pressure/temperature applications, d) Compact speed compressors used in aircraft cooling applications.

IP Protection details

  • Compact Tandem Cylinder Reciprocating Engine for CO PowerPatent filed (Title, national/International): “A System and A Method for Generating Mechanical Power using Super Critical Carbon Dioxide (International Appl No. PCT-IB2022/053138 Dated: 05th April 2022) (International IP filed-under review)”, “Compact Tandem Cylinder Reciprocating Engine for CO2 Power Generation (PCT No. 202041056953 Dated: December 29th, 2020) (Indian Patent)”, and ” Compact Tendem Recoprocating Engine for CO2 power Generation (US IP filed on 29th June 2023)”.
  • Patents Granted: “A System and A Method for Generating Mechanical Power using Super Critical Carbon Dioxide (International Appl No. PCT-IB2022/053138 Dated: 05th April 2022) (International IP filed-under review)”, and  “Liquid Cooling of Electrical Machines (Patent Number 427638, Grant Date 29th March, 2023, Appl No. 202141007434) (Indian Patent)”
  • Copyrights obtained /progress on commercialisation /Pl. specify connect with industry: “TDPS for High-Speed Electrical Motor and Generator design”, “Triveni Turbines for Scaleup and Commercialization”, and “Indian Navy for ship applications for cooling and power generation”.

Contact details (for more information)

Supporting Photographs/Images

Organizations involved in the development (logo/name)

Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India Department of Science and Technology

Triveni Turbines, Bengaluru, India

Ministry of Science and Technology

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