ABSTRACT
Fluid power cycles convert thermal energy to mechanical energy, and are an integral part of many power generation systems. Classical steam Rankine cycles and air Brayton cycles comprise the vast majority of currently-implemented power cycles. However, in the past several years, alternative fluid power cycles that use supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) have been proposed and implemented. The primary advantages of these cycles are improved efficiency, compact turbomachinery, and water-free operation when dry cooling is utilized. The basic characteristics of sCO2 power cycles, and the equipment requirements and characteristics used in their implementation are described. Several proposed cycle architectures are discussed in the context of the intended applications.
