Publications

Progress in Overcoming Materials Challenges with Supercritical CO2 Recompression Closed Brayton Cycles

Walker, Matthew W.; Walker, Matthew W.; Kruizenga, Alan M.; Kruizenga, Alan M.; Weck, Philippe F.; Weck, Philippe F.; Withey, Elizabeth A.; Withey, Elizabeth A.; Fleming, Darryn F.; Fleming, Darryn F.; Rochau, Gary E.; Rochau, Gary E.

The supercritical carbon dioxide (S - CO2) Brayton Cycle has gained significant attention in the last decade as an advanced power cycle capab le of achieving high efficiency power conversion. Sandia National Laboratories, with support from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy (US DOE - NE), has been conducting research and development in order to deliver a technology that is rea dy for commercialization. There are a wide range of materials related challenges that must be overcome for the success of this technology. At Sandia, recent work has focused on the following main areas: (1) Investigating the potential for system cost re duction through the introduction of low cost alloys in low temperature loop sections, (2) Identifying material options for 10MW RCBC systems, (3) Understanding and resolving turbine degradation, (4) Identifying gas foil bearing behavior in CO 2 , and (5) Ide ntifying the influence of gas chemistry on alloy corrosion. Progress in each of these areas is provided in this report.