Optimization and Techno-Economic Comparison of Regenerators and Recuperators in sCO2 Recompression Brayton Cycles for Concentrating Solar Power Applications

Reznicek, Evan P.; Neises, Ty; Braun, Robert J.

doi:10.1016/j.solener.2022.03.043

Optimization and Techno-Economic Comparison of Regenerators and Recuperators in sCO2 Recompression Brayton Cycles for Concentrating Solar Power Applications

Journal Article · Thu Apr 28 04:00:00 EDT 2022 · Solar Energy

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2022.03.043· OSTI ID:1869696

; ; Braun, Robert J.

Supercritical CO2 power cycles might be capable of providing the cost reductions and efficiency improvements necessary to reach concentrating solar power (CSP) cost targets, but require large, highly effective recuperators. Fixed-bed regenerators are a periodic heat exchanger that could be an effective yet low-cost alternative to these recuperators. This study presents a techno-economic comparison of regenerators and recuperators for a 100 MWe supercritical CO2 power cycle for CSP applications. We quantify the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) for the power plant with both types of heat exchangers, and explore sensitivity of LCOE to parameters such as CSP-specific capital costs, power cycle component capital costs, and regenerator valve replacements costs. Results indicate that the incumbent printed circuit heat exchangers achieve the lowest LCOE, unless the upper extreme of PCHE capital cost and lower extremes of regenerator and valve capital and O&M costs are realized. Sensitivity analysis also illustrates that the primary heat exchanger cost is the most influential of power cycle components, and that CSP component capital cost is more influential than power cycle capital costs. This illustrates the importance of reducing the cost of heliostats, receivers, and thermal energy storage for achieving CSP LCOE targets.

Research Organization:: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Solar Energy Technologies Office (EE-4S)

DOE Contract Number:: AC36-08GO28308

OSTI ID:: 1869696

Report Number(s):: NREL/JA-5400-77470; MainId:27406; UUID:a7398b31-df01-4236-9292-72144b26fefe; MainAdminID:64556

Journal Information:: Solar Energy, Journal Name: Solar Energy Vol. 238

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

References (21)

A New Equation of State for Carbon Dioxide Covering the Fluid Region from the Triple‐Point Temperature to 1100 K at Pressures up to 800 MPa Span, Roland; Wagner, Wolfgang Journal of Physical and Chemical Reference Data, Vol. 25, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.555991	journal	November 1996
Optimizing an advanced hybrid of solar-assisted supercritical CO 2 Brayton cycle: A vital transition for low-carbon power generation industry Milani, Dia; Luu, Minh Tri; McNaughton, Robbie Energy Conversion and Management, Vol. 148 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2017.06.017	journal	September 2017
The supercritical thermodynamic power cycle Feher, E. G. Energy Conversion, Vol. 8, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-7480(68)90105-8	journal	September 1968
One-dimensional, transient modeling of a fixed-bed regenerator as a replacement for recuperators in supercritical CO2 power cycles Reznicek, Evan P.; Hinze, Jacob F.; Rapp, Logan M. Energy Conversion and Management, Vol. 218 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2020.112921	journal	August 2020
Thermal and Transport Properties of NaCl–KCl–ZnCl2 Eutectic Salts for New Generation High-Temperature Heat-Transfer Fluids Li, Peiwen; Molina, Edgar; Wang, Kai Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, Vol. 138, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4033793	journal	June 2016
Optimization of a recompression supercritical carbon dioxide cycle for an innovative central receiver solar power plant Reyes-Belmonte, M. A.; Sebastián, A.; Romero, M. Energy, Vol. 112 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2016.06.013	journal	October 2016
Multiscale Transient Thermal, Hydraulic, and Mechanical Analysis Methodology of a Printed Circuit Heat Exchanger Using an Effective Porous Media Approach Urquiza, Eugenio; Lee, Kenneth; Peterson, Per F. Journal of Thermal Science and Engineering Applications, Vol. 5, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4024712	journal	October 2013
Simulation of the supercritical CO2 recompression Brayton power cycle with a high-temperature regenerator Reznicek, Evan P.; Hinze, Jacob F.; Nellis, Gregory F. Energy Conversion and Management, Vol. 229 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2020.113678	journal	February 2021
Thermodynamic Study of Advanced Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Power Cycles for Concentrating Solar Power Systems Turchi, Craig S.; Ma, Zhiwen; Neises, Ty W. Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, Vol. 135, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4024030	journal	June 2013
Supercritical carbon dioxide power cycle design and configuration optimization to minimize levelized cost of energy of molten salt power towers operating at 650 °C Neises, Ty; Turchi, Craig Solar Energy, Vol. 181 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2019.01.078	journal	March 2019
Molten salt power towers operating at 600–650 °C: Salt selection and cost benefits Turchi, Craig S.; Vidal, Judith; Bauer, Matthew Solar Energy, Vol. 164 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2018.01.063	journal	April 2018
Asymmetric-unbalanced counterflow thermal regenerator problem: solution by the Galerkin method and meaning of dimensionless parameters Baclic, B. S.; Dragutinovic, G. D. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol. 34, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1016/0017-9310(91)90267-I	journal	February 1991
A novel supercritical CO2 recompression Brayton power cycle for power tower concentrating solar plants Linares, José I.; Montes, María J.; Cantizano, Alexis Applied Energy, Vol. 263 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.114644	journal	April 2020
Thermodynamic analysis and comparison for different direct-heated supercritical CO2 Brayton cycles integrated into a solar thermal power tower system Zhu, Han-Hui; Wang, Kun; He, Ya-Ling Energy, Vol. 140 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2017.08.067	journal	December 2017
Demonstration of the Allam Cycle: An Update on the Development Status of a High Efficiency Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Power Process Employing Full Carbon Capture Allam, Rodney; Martin, Scott; Forrest, Brock Energy Procedia, Vol. 114 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2017.03.1731	journal	July 2017
Thermodynamic analysis and optimization of a molten salt solar power tower integrated with a recompression supercritical CO 2 Brayton cycle based on integrated modeling Wang, Kun; He, Ya-Ling Energy Conversion and Management, Vol. 135 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2016.12.085	journal	March 2017
sCO2 Power Cycle Component Cost Correlations From DOE Data Spanning Multiple Scales and Applications Weiland, Nathan T.; Lance, Blake W.; Pidaparti, Sandeep R. ASME Turbo Expo 2019: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition, Volume 9: Oil and Gas Applications; Supercritical CO2 Power Cycles; Wind Energy https://doi.org/10.1115/GT2019-90493	conference	November 2019
Energy and exergy analyses of solar tower power plant driven supercritical carbon dioxide recompression cycles for six different locations Atif, Maimoon.; Al-Sulaiman, Fahad A. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Vol. 68 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2016.09.122	journal	February 2017
Dry-Cooled Supercritical CO ₂ Power for Advanced Nuclear Reactors Conboy, T. M.; Carlson, M. D.; Rochau, G. E. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, Vol. 137, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4028080	journal	August 2014
Study on performances of supercritical CO2 recompression Brayton cycles with multi-objective optimization Deng, Q. H.; Wang, D.; Zhao, H. Applied Thermal Engineering, Vol. 114 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2016.11.055	journal	March 2017
Cost comparison of printed circuit heat exchanger to low cost periodic flow regenerator for use as recuperator in a s-CO2 Brayton cycle Hinze, Jacob F.; Nellis, Gregory F.; Anderson, Mark H. Applied Energy, Vol. 208 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.09.037	journal	December 2017

Similar Records

Cost comparison of printed circuit heat exchanger to low cost periodic flow regenerator for use as recuperator in a s-CO₂ Brayton cycle

Journal Article · Wed Sep 20 20:00:00 EDT 2017 · Applied Energy · OSTI ID:1434935

Simulation of the supercritical CO₂ recompression Brayton power cycle with a high-temperature regenerator

Journal Article · Tue Jan 05 19:00:00 EST 2021 · Energy Conversion and Management · OSTI ID:1848394

Modeling a Water-Cooled Printed Circuit Heat Exchanger Condensing CO2 for use in SCO2 Cycle System Optimization Studies

Conference · Mon Jun 26 00:00:00 EDT 2023 · OSTI ID:1991597

Related Subjects

OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
SOLAR ENERGY
printed circuit heat exchanger
recuperator
regenerator
supercritical carbon dioxide power cycle
techno-economic optimization

Optimization and Techno-Economic Comparison of Regenerators and Recuperators in sCO2 Recompression Brayton Cycles for Concentrating Solar Power Applications

Citation Formats

References (21)

Similar Records

Related Subjects