Power Cycle technology
Advanced Power Cycle Technology
Supercritical Carbon Dioxide
Supercritical CO₂ for Power Generation
When held above its critical pressure and temperature, CO2 can be an effective and efficient working fluid for power generation with the density of a liquid, but with some gas-like behavior.
Energy Source Versatility
Supercritical CO2 can be coupled with a wide range of different energy sources including solar, nuclear, geothermal, coal, and natural gas to provide next-generation, sustainable energy.
Integration Capabilities
The Utah San Rafael Energy Lab has the capability to couple these various energy sources to our supercritical CO2 power cycle which has a broad application potential.
Toward Hybrid Energy Systems
Future plans include integration with lead-based heating loops and hybrid solar–nuclear energy systems.
Biofuel and boiler characterization
Our facility has world-class, pilot-scale combustion facilities with the ability to burn and characterize biofuels, fossil fuels, and mixtures. Our system mimics a utility-scale coal-fired combustion boiler, giving us the ability to test out new fuel mixtures, including biofuels, to characterize the combustion process without risking damage to your boiler or furnace.
Fuel Preparation
Our facility has pilot-scale fuel processing capabilities to mill and pulverize solid combustible fuels to prepare them for combustion.