Tiny turbine that fits on your DESK runs on carbon dioxide
- and it can produce enough energy to power a small town
- Turbine runs on carbon dioxide under high pressure and heated to 700˚C
- This supercritical liquid state allows for super-efficient energy production
- Prototype will produce enough power for around 10,000 homes
- But it could be scaled up to power a city, and could help energy firms repurpose waste gas and heat for efficient and clean energy production
By RYAN O'HARE FOR MAILONLINE
Engineers have developed a turbine which has the potential to power a small town all the while being no bigger than your office desk.
Designed by GE Global Research, the turbine could power 10,000 homes and according to researchers, could help to solve some of the world's growing energy challenges.
But rather than steam, which is typically used to set turbines in motion, the new turbine uses carbon dioxide.
Engineers have developed a small turbine which runs on superheated carbon dioxide and could generate enough power for 10,000 homes. Pictured is a 3D-printed prototype of the turbine, which GE Global Research says could help to solve some of the world's growing energy challenges
'This compact machine will allow us to do amazing things,' said Doug Hofer, lead engineer on the project, in Albany, New York.
'The world is seeking cleaner and more efficient ways to generate power. The concepts we are exploring with this machine are helping us address both.'
According to MIT Tech Review, the turbine is driven by 'supercritical carbon dioxide', which is kept under high pressure at temperatures of 700˚C.
Under these conditions, the carbon dioxide enters a physical state between a gas and a liquid, enabling the turbine to harness its energy for super-efficient power generation - with the turbines transferring 50 per cent of the heat into electricity.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3535461/Tiny-turbine-fits-DESK-runs-carbon-dioxide-produce-energy-power-small-town.html#ixzz45fDIAcOY
