Search for the Optimal Design of a Supercritical-CO2 Brayton Power Cycle from a Superstructure-Based Approach Implemented in a Commercial Simulation Software

Improving the efficiency and flexibility of fossil-fired power plants remains a current challenging issue. In that regard, supercritical CO2 Brayton cycles offer promising potential. This paper aims to apply process synthesis approach design closed cycle using as working fluid with coal furnace heat source. The general methodology presented here for designing includes construction superstructure containing all relevant possible layouts, formulation cycle-synthesis problem mathematical optimization problem, its solution an appropriate algorithm. study was conducted help simulation commercial software (PROSIM) Mixed-Integer Distributed Ant Colony Optimization (MIDACO) work highlights limits purely technical would ignore economical layer. optimal structure obtained regarding Levelized Cost Of Electricity (LCOE) minimization is configuration one reheat in boiler, two recuperators, recompression loop around low-temperature recuperator; it associated 49.35 % 10% reduction LCOE comparison case found through energy under typical heuristics constraints.