Fast Turbomachinery Design Tools for Multi-Good Plants Based on sCO2 Cycles: the MUSIC Project Experience

TitleFast Turbomachinery Design Tools for Multi-Good Plants Based on sCO2 Cycles: the MUSIC Project Experience
Publication TypeConference Proceedings
Year of Publication2025
AuthorsNesi F, Marconcini M, Arnone A, Girelli S, Alfani D, Silva P
Conference NameATI Annual Congress (ATI 2025)
Volume Journal of Physics: Conference Series, Volume 3143
Number012122
Date Published12/2025
PublisherIOP Publishing Ltd
Conference LocationBenevento, Italy, 10-12 Sep 2025.
Abstract
Global warming and the impact of greenhouse gas emissions are currently one of the main topics of the international policy and scientific community. In the  context of EU and national energy strategies, one of the most interesting research areas is the use of supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) as a working fluid. 
With this aim the paper presents the development and the validation of mean-line tools for design of centrifugal compressors and radial inflow expanders to be applied in a multi-good system exploiting concentrating solar power (CSP) to produce both electricity and hydrogen (H2) in the framework of the MUSIC project funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research. The mean-
line approach is essential during the preliminary phase of turbomachinery sizing as it quickly provides geometric and performance quantities. In particular, the choice of sCO2 as a working fluid makes the study of the compressor complex due to the proximity of critical point at the inlet station, in this sense becomes essential to develop a robust mean-line tool providing a preliminary solution for  the compressor design. The mean-line tools are based on enthalpy loss correlations, with several loss families implemented to study their effect on performance quantities. Since turbomachinery performance is a key enabler for the success of the investigated solutions, the impact of main dimensionless parameters such as size parameter, pressure ratio, specific speed and isentropic velocity ratio is studied to evaluate their effect on efficiency. In conclusion, the results of the parametric analysis are used to quantify the influence of turbomachinery performance on the overall cycle in nominal conditions.
URLhttps://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/3143/1/012122
DOI10.1088/1742-6596/3143/1/012122
Refereed DesignationRefereed