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Why can ultra-supercritical Rankine cycle create such amazing efficiency?
In recent years, with the continuous improvement of energy efficiency requirements, ultra-supercritical Rankine cycle (USC RC) has become a high-profile technology in the field of power generation. This cycle takes advantage of the characteristics of the working fluid operating in a supercritical state, and its thermal efficiency is significantly improved compared to the traditional subcritical cycle. These improvements can not only reduce fuel consumption, but also reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which has attracted widespread attention and research.
The key advantage of the ultra-supercritical Rankine cycle is that it can operate at higher pressures and temperatures. Under such conditions, the thermodynamic properties of the working fluid naturally increase the thermal efficiency.
How supercritical state works
Traditional Rankine cycles usually operate below the critical point, while ultra-supercritical cycles change this convention. In this cycle, the working fluid remains in a liquid state during compression, but changes to a gas or supercritical state during the expansion stage, which greatly improves the efficiency of the overall process.
According to the thermal efficiency formula, the ultra-supercritical Rankine cycle can achieve higher electrical energy output at relatively low heat input, which means that for every unit of energy consumed, more electricity can be obtained.
Technical details analysis
In the heating stage of this cycle, the working fluid is heated in an isobaric process. When the working fluid exceeds the critical temperature, it will directly transform from a liquid to a supercritical state. There is no evaporation of the liquid in this process. This is An important difference from traditional cycles.
From the perspective of the second law of thermodynamics, this process is more efficient because the average temperature difference between the heat source and the working fluid is greatly reduced, which means lower energy loss.
Sources of competitive advantage
In the ultra-supercritical cycle, power generation can utilize a higher pressure ratio, which not only improves the ability to generate electricity, but also significantly enhances the utilization efficiency of lower-temperature heat sources. This makes it one of the best choices for coal power generation, thereby reducing environmental pollution while ensuring energy demand.
Practical application exploration
In practical applications, ultra-supercritical Rankine cycles have achieved significant efficiency gains in large coal power plants. These power plants are often equipped with up to ten inlet water heaters, which are used to increase the temperature of the water entering the boiler, effectively reducing fuel usage and improving operating efficiency.
Many studies have shown that the thermal efficiency of this cycle can reach more than 50%, which is up to 6% higher than the traditional subcritical configuration.
Potential for future development
Facing the future, the application potential of ultra-supercritical Rankine cycle is still wide. As interest in renewable energy grows, this cycle may also be further adapted to emerging energy markets such as wind, solar and geothermal energy. In addition, the industry is also full of expectations for its applications in waste incineration and waste heat recovery.
Reflection on environmental protection benefits
Due to its greater efficiency, this cycle means reducing the environmental side effects of fossil fuels in the context of global climate change. Currently, the dual demands for environmental protection and economic benefits make the rapid development of ultra-supercritical technology inevitable.
In the future of energy, how should we balance the relationship between efficiency and environmental protection, economy and sustainable development?
