Turbomachinery design for the Graz cycle:: an optimized power plant concept for CO2 retention

Introduction of closed-cycle gas turbines with their capability of retaining combustion-generated CO2 can offer a valuable contribution to the Kyoto goal and to future power generation. Research and development work at Graz University of Technology since the 1990s has led to the so-called Graz cycle, a high-efficiency zero-emission power cycle. In this work the design for a prototype plant based on commercially available technology as well as cutting-edge turbomachinery is presented. The proposed turbomachinery components as well as the combuster are discussed in detail to show the feasibility of a Graz cycle power plant. Finally a first cost estimation is given to show the economics of a Graz cycle power plant.