Too much carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere causes problems with the earth’s climate. But using the thermodynamic properties of this versatile molecule in modern power systems can support a climate-friendly energy transition.
Affordable, clean power is essential to drive sustainable economic development. Renewables such as wind, solar, hydro and tidal power will be integral to a low-carbon energy mix. However, baseload power and long duration energy storage (LDES) will be required to supplement these non-programmable renewable power sources. CO2 can support that in several ways.
The Allam-Fetvedt cycle enables thermal power generation from fossil fuels with zero CO2 emissions to air. It uses supercritical CO2 (sCO2) from oxyfuel combustion as the main working fluid in a semi-closed Brayton cycle. sCO2 is also at the heart of the indirect-fired supercritical CO2 recompression Brayton cycle which can be used with concentrated solar power, or on modern nuclear reactors.
In addition to its use as a working fluid in power generation, CO2 can be used in a reversible power storage cycle to compliment non-programmable renewable power sources.
... to continue reading you must be subscribed
