Energy geeks, get ready! Engineers from the Chinese mainland recently shattered a century-old power formula with a brand-new sCO₂ (supercritical carbon dioxide) unit named Super Carbon-1. ⚡🔬
Unlike traditional steam turbines, this sleek machine runs on supercritical CO₂, supercharging electricity output by a jaw-dropping 85% from the same heat source. Even better? Net power climbs over 50%, all while shrinking equipment size and cutting costs. Think of it as a power-up in real life!
How it works
Supercritical CO₂ sits in a magical state between gas and liquid at high pressure and temperature. This lets the cycle extract more energy from heat, boosting thermodynamic efficiency beyond what water can do. The result: more juice with less waste. 🌿
Why it matters
Smaller footprint, higher efficiency, and cleaner operations mean Super Carbon-1 could revolutionize coal, gas, nuclear, and even solar-thermal plants. It’s a major leap for global decarbonization efforts and could power a greener future around the world.
With pilot trials kicking off this year, keep an eye on the Chinese mainland as Super Carbon-1 charts a new course in clean energy. The future is bright—and powered by CO₂! 🌍
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
