Impacts of collector receiver volume on dynamic performance of a direct-heated supercritical-CO2 closed Brayton cycle in a solar thermal power plant

Power generation using a direct-heated supercritical-CO2 (sCO2) closed Brayton cycle (CBC) offers a promising avenue for the development of low-cost, efficient, and simple next-generation Concentrating Solar Thermal (CST) power plants. The impacts of the hot-side volume on dynamic performance of the sCO2 CBC is investigated assuming receiver areas and solar fluxes that might be typical of central receiver tower (CRT) and linear Fresnel reflector (LFR) CST power plants. The sCO2 CBC is analysed as being direct-heated (the heat transfer fluid is also the working fluid) and dry-cooled. Dynamic performance of the sCO2 CBC is analysed using simulations conducted using a control-oriented power cycle model with ambient air conditions and heat input derived for parabolic trough on a typical summer day at Longreach in Queensland, Australia.