Development of the turbomachinery for the supercritical carbon dioxide power cycle

A supercritical carbon dioxide power cycle has been focused as a promising power cycle because of its compactness, a high efficiency, and a wide applicability. A 10-kWe-class simple unrecuperated supercritical carbon dioxide Brayton experimental loop including a turbo-alternator-compressor unit using a centrifugal compressor and a radial turbine was developed. A shrouded type of a compressor impeller and a turbine wheel with labyrinth seals were designed to overcome thrust balancing problems of the high-pressure fluid turbomachinery. In addition, this type has no issues on the thermal growth collision failure and clearance loss between a shroud and a wheel. Preliminary operation at 30,000 rpm, turbine inlet temperature of 83 °C, and pressure of 8500 kPa was successful. It is founded that all states of the cycle existed in the supercritical region.