Detailed Optimization of Supercritical CO2 Power Cycle for the DEMO Fusion Power Plant

The supercritical CO2 (sCO2) cycle proves its advantages in many studies and simulations, where it appears as a suitable counter candidate to the Rankine steam and helium cycles. Advantages include mainly compactness, relatively high efficiency, and cost-effectiveness in areas of higher temperatures. However, the use of sCO2 as a coolant for heat removal from fusion power plants is still not in the state of full technological readiness. For a more realistic design of the system, a model was created that includes a detailed description of the individual components of the heat removal circuit, such as turbines, compressors, and heat exchangers (HXs), where the efficiency of the individual components is recalculated according to specific working parameters. The result shows a significantly lower complexity of the system and minimal built-up space compared to the Rankine steam cycle with slightly lower efficiency.