Case Study
Improving the Performance of Supercritical CO2 in Next-generation Energy Applications with 3D Metal Printing
According to the US DOE, “Supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) power cycles have the potential to reduce the cost of concentrating solar power (CSP) by far more efficiently converting high-temperature solar heat into electricity.” In addition, moving to sCO2 can also drastically reduce the size of the power plant by almost 300:1.
But leveraging the power of Super Critical CO2 also has its challenges: Gasses at temperatures of 700o C, varying in pressure from 8-25 bar, running through hermetically sealed, compact, structures, to name a few.
Decreasing the size of a generator opens opportunities but increases the engineering challenge. Super alloys like Inconel® 718 are attractive for corrosion resistance and high temperatures, but are difficult to machine. Given these requirements, manufacturing solutions for these applications can be nearly impossible. Until Now!
Compressor-housing 3D printed on Velo3D’s Sapphire printer. Interior has been machined to produce fully functional prototype, ready for testing by the Department of Energy.
Key Learnings:
Innovative Solutions
Mohawk Innovative Technology leverages Velo3D’s metal AM solution to create groundbreaking designs for energy, power, defense, and aerospace industries.
Cost-Efficiency and Speed
Traditional manufacturing methods for complex parts could take over 20 weeks and cost upwards of $90,000, while 3D printing reduces lead times to 3.5 days and offers significant cost savings.
Complex Geometry Simplified
Metal AM allowed Mohawk to create intricate designs without compromising performance, crucial for components like compressor housings handling high pressures and temperatures.
Expanding Business Opportunities
Metal AM opens up new markets for Mohawk, enabling cost-efficient prototyping and competitive manufacturing of custom-designed components, fostering business growth in innovative sectors like turbomachinery.
