Recently, China has achieved a significant milestone in the energy sector with the successful commercialization of the world’s first supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO₂) power generator in Guizhou. This groundbreaking achievement marks the successful completion of the global demonstration project for the “Super Carbon No. 1” sCO₂ waste heat power generation technology, propelling the transition of supercritical CO₂ power generation from the laboratory to commercial application.
China inaugurates the first supercritical CO2 generator.
Advantages of the “Super Carbon No. 1” Technology
The “Super Carbon No. 1” power generator utilizes supercritical CO₂ as the working fluid to leverage its high thermal efficiency in the supercritical state. Compared to traditional sintering waste heat steam power generation systems, this technology offers substantial advantages. First, it increases power generation efficiency by over 85%, reduces space requirements by 50%, and generates an additional 70 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. These benefits significantly improve energy utilization and make high-efficiency power generation possible in more compact spaces.
The power generation efficiency has increased by more than 85% | The venue requirement is reduced by 50% | Generate more than 70 million kilowatt-hours of electricity every year |
Efficient Thermoelectric Conversion Principle
The core of the “Super Carbon No. 1” technology lies in the closed Brayton cycle. In this system, supercritical CO₂ is heated to temperatures above 31°C and pressurized to 73 atmospheres. It is then sent into the power generation system, where its pressure and temperature are further increased through compressors and heat exchangers. Finally, the high-pressure, high-temperature CO₂ drives a turbine, efficiently converting thermal energy into electrical power.
1→ Main Compressor 2 → Recompressor 3→ High-pressure Turbine 4 → Heat Source 5 → Low-pressure Turbine 6 → High-temperature Recuperator 7 → Low-temperature Recuperator 8 → Cooler 9 → Generator Q → （Heat） |
A Major Breakthrough in Commercialization
The successful operation of the world’s first commercial supercritical CO₂ power generator signifies a major breakthrough, as the technology transitions from experimental stages to real-world applications. With its high efficiency and compact design, supercritical CO₂ power generation technology presents broad market potential, especially in the context of the global energy transition and carbon emission reduction goals.
