The working fluid in a supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) turbine remains in a single phase, so it avoids the energy losses associated with boiling and condensation (wherein molecules absorb energy to vaporize and lose energy to their surroundings to condense and turn into a liquid). Since sCO2 is also much denser than steam and can be compressed more easily, it transfers more energy to the turbine blades. This makes it possible to generate power comparable to a steam turbine with smaller equipment, resulting in more compact systems. Despite its advantages over a conventional steam turbine, however, sCO2 engines also require specialized equipment that can bear the high-pressure conditions of such a system and have high energy requirements.
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