Submission + - Supercritical CO2 Generators Now In Production 1
cusco writes: https://kdwalmsley.substack.co...
Chinese engineers deployed the world's first commercially viable sCO2 power generators, at a steel mill in Guizhou.
The Supercritical Carbon Dioxide (sCO2) generator converts waste heat into electricity. Compared to traditional steam and thermal systems, the sCO2 design is more than 85% more efficient, and produces 50% more electricity. . .
SCO2 is supercritical carbon dioxide. CO2 that’s maintained in a state above critical temperature and pressure, which is over 31 degrees Celsius and 1070 psi. Once there, CO2 acts both as a liquid and as a gas, and in industrial applications, that becomes very useful. As a gas, there is less resistance, and as a liquid, it provides greater thrust. And, turning CO2 into supercritical CO2 is more energy efficient than turning water into steam. . .
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Not everyone is as optimistic. Long article which assumes the Chinese will be sloppy with implementation for some reason.
https://cleantechnica.com/2026...
Experience with hydrogen suggests that expecting seals to remain effectively perfect over many years of continuous high pressure operation is absurdly optimistic, and there is little reason to assume supercritical CO systems will escape a similar long term reality. . .
Chinese engineers deployed the world's first commercially viable sCO2 power generators, at a steel mill in Guizhou.
The Supercritical Carbon Dioxide (sCO2) generator converts waste heat into electricity. Compared to traditional steam and thermal systems, the sCO2 design is more than 85% more efficient, and produces 50% more electricity. . .
SCO2 is supercritical carbon dioxide. CO2 that’s maintained in a state above critical temperature and pressure, which is over 31 degrees Celsius and 1070 psi. Once there, CO2 acts both as a liquid and as a gas, and in industrial applications, that becomes very useful. As a gas, there is less resistance, and as a liquid, it provides greater thrust. And, turning CO2 into supercritical CO2 is more energy efficient than turning water into steam. . .
-----
Not everyone is as optimistic. Long article which assumes the Chinese will be sloppy with implementation for some reason.
https://cleantechnica.com/2026...
Experience with hydrogen suggests that expecting seals to remain effectively perfect over many years of continuous high pressure operation is absurdly optimistic, and there is little reason to assume supercritical CO systems will escape a similar long term reality. . .
