Publications Details

Silicon Carbide Multilayer Piping for 900°C Supercritical CO₂ Brayton Cycle: Chemical Compatibility in CO₂

Walker, Matthew W.; York, Warren L.; Chames, Jeffrey M.; Sugar, Joshua D.; Frey, Kristen; Feinroth, Herb; Barringer, Eric

The US Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy is interested in developing supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO₂) power cycles that can achieve higher cycle efficiencies and lower costs than the traditional steam Rankine cycles. For the application of an sCO2 energy conversion system with a Very High Temperature Gas Reactor (VHTGR), turbine inlet temperatures over 850°C may be required. Consequently, it is necessary to demonstrate structural materials, including turbine inlet piping, that can be code certified at operating temperatures up to 900°C at sCO₂ pressures up to 42 MPa (6100 psi). There are very few metal alloys that retain their strength at these high temperatures, and that are chemically compatible with sCO₂.