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Supercritical CO2 Power Cycles Symposium

Proceedings of the 2026 International sCO2 Energy Technologies Symposium

The 2026 International sCO2 Energy Technologies Symposium was held March 2–5, 2026, in Pittsburgh, PA. The following papers and/or presentations were presented at the symposium. They are grouped by session.

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Batch Download - Keynotes, Panel Sessions, Tutorials

Batch Download - Papers & Posters

Pre-Conference Tutorials

sCO2 Power Cycles Fundamentals Tutorial
Jason Wilkes, Southwest Research Institute

sCO2 Cycles
Tim Held Echogen Power Systems
Owen Pryor, Southwest Research Institute

sCO2 Oxy-Combustion
Francesco Di Sabatino and Alex Cho, Southwest Research Institute
Professor Rajasegar, Colorado School of Mines

sCO2 Turbomachinery
Jon Wade, Southwest Research Institute

sCO2 Materials for Supercritical CO2 Applications
Henry Saari, Carleon University

Heat Exchangers for Supercritical CO2 Power Cycle Applications Tutorial
Cole Replogle, Southwest Research Institute
Renaud Le Pierres, (Parker Hannifin)
Marc Portnoff, Thar Energy – Heat

Keynote Speakers

Maulik Shelat, 8 Rivers – Direct fired sCO2 power cycle for solid fuels – Closer to Commercialization than Ever Before

Daniel Dodd, GTI Energy – Updates on the STEP Demo Project and its Role in Supporting sCO2 Commercialization

Tim Held, Echogen Power Systems – Current Developments in sCO2 Power, Heat, and Energy Storage

Davide Biliotti, Baker Hughes – sCO2 for SMR Power Conversion: High Efficiency in a Small Footprint for Future Energy Scenarios

Klaus Brun, EEE – Compression Options for Carbon Capture and Sequestration

Cory Stansbury, Westinghouse Electric – Supercritical CO2 Power Cycles in the Context of Advanced Nuclear Design: A Pragmatic Review of Opportunities and Areas for Development

Panel Sessions

Panel Session I – Oxy-Combustion
Francesco Di Sabatino, SwRI – Moderator

Panel Session II – CO2 Transport
Todd Omatick, EEE – Moderator

Panel Session III – International R&D
David Sanchez, University of Seville and Renaud Le Pierres, Parker FES – Moderators

Panel Session IV – High-level DOE
Tim Allison, SwRI and Jayanta Kapat, UCR – Moderators

Panel Session V – Balance of Plant
Rob Pelton, EEE and Jon Wade, SwRI – Moderators

Panel Session VI – Heat Pump
Renaud Le Pierres, Parker FES – Moderator

Panel Session VII – University & National Labs
Andrew Schrader, University of Dayton – Moderator

Tech Update Session

Paper Sessions

Compressors
Kevin Kisor, Everllence; Tim Allison, SwRI; Rob Pelton, EEE – Session Chairs

Paper #001 – Optimizing Flow Control for Integrally Geared Compressors in Carbon Capture Applications – Klaus Brun, EEE – Presentation

Paper #007 – Robust Centrifugal Compressor Stage Design for Industrial Process Super-Critical CO2 Applications – Sterling Scavo-Faulk, EEE – Presentation

Paper #017 – The Prediction of Reynolds Number and Surface Roughness Impacts on the Performance of a Supercritical CO2 Compressor Stage – Robert Pelton, EEE – Presentation

Paper #025 – Evaluating the Effect of Swirl Brake Vanes on Stability for A First-Stage Centrifugal Compressor in Supercritical CO2 Using Transient Computational Fluid Dynamic Analysis – Mark Anguiano, SwRI – Presentation

Paper #053 – Comparison of sCO2 Compressor Performance Test Results Using Temperature-, Density-, or Torque-based Measurements – Craig Nolen, SwRI – Presentation

Paper #054 – Aeromechanics Considerations for a Centrifugal Compressor Impeller operation in High Density Fluids – Manish Thorat, EEE – Presentation

Modeling & Control
Andrew Fry, Brigham Young University & Michael McDowell, GTI Energy – Session Chairs

Paper #006 – Study of sCO2 System Compressor Inlet Temperature Control Strategy for Marine Propulsion – Gihyeon Kim, KAIST – Presentation

Paper #010 – Dynamic Analysis and Control of An Air-Cooled Heat Exchanger System for A 50 Mwe sCO2 CSP Plant – Colin du Sart, University of Cape Town – Presentation

Paper #057 – Validation of the STEP Demo Dynamic Model with Simple Cycle Test Data – Darryl Hino, GTI Energy

Paper #061 – Operational Transients in Supercritical CO2 Systems: A Case Study on a 10 MWe Cycle – Josh Warren, SwRI – Presentation

Paper #067 – Steady State Model Update for the 10 MWe sCO2 Test Facility Program - Wade Mao, GTI Energy – Presentation

Oxy-Combustion
Owen Pryor and Francesco Di Sabatino, SwRI – Session Chairs

Paper #009 – Near Carbon-Neutral Power Generation by DME in sCO2 Oxy-Combustion Cycles – Ghadi Abi Haidar, Forschungszentrum Jülich

Paper #011 – Laser Igniters for Direct-Fired Supercritical CO2 Combustors – Shashikant Aithal Sreenath Gupta, Argonne National Laboratory – Presentation

Paper #015 – Investigation of Ignition and Stabilization of CO2-Diluted Methane-Oxygen Flame Above Carbon Dioxide Critical Pressure – Mariana Rodriguez-Chavez, SwRI – Presentation

Testing
Tim Allison, SwRI and Jeong Ik Lee, KAIST – Session Chairs

Paper #030 – Analysis of Gas Samples Collected from the 10 MWe Supercritical Transformational Electric Power (STEP) Demonstration Plant – Henry Saari, Carleton University – Presentation

Paper #058 – Hydraulic Shock Event and Analysis During Simple Cycle Testing at STEP Demo Facility – Darryl Hino, GTI Energy – Presentation

Paper #066 – Development of Electric Machines that Produce Radial Magnetic Forces to Statically Unload Foil Bearings and Enable Hermetic sCO2 Turbomachinery - Eric Severson, University of Minnesota – Presentation

Paper #069 – Experimental Operation and Future Design Considerations of a sCO2 Turbine Stop and Control Valve – Joshua Warren, SwRI – Presentation

Paper #084 – Lessons Learned from the Operation of 10MW sCO2 Compressor Test Facility at the University of Notre Dame – Jeongseek Kang, University of Notre Dame – Presentation

Heat Exchangers
Renaud Le Pierres – Session Chair

Paper #018 – Behavior of a Solid Fuel Fired Primary Heat Exchanger in a 1.5 MWth Closed Loop Brayton Cycle Using CO2 – Andrew Fry, Brigham Young University – Presentation

Paper #020 – Considerations of Primary Heat Exchanger Materials for Fusion Reactors Utilizing sCO2 Ganesan Subbaraman, GTI Energy – Presentation

Paper #022 – Impact of Cooling Fluid on the Design and Performance of a Supercritical CO2 Heat Exchanger for Applications in High-Temperature Heat Pumps - Emily Fricke, KTH, Royal Institute of Technology – Presentation

Paper #028 – Thermohydraulic Performance of a Supercritical CO2 PCHE for Heat Pipe Microreactors - Curtis H. Foster, University of Wisconsin – Presentation

Energy Storage Systems
Ty Neises and Jon Wade, SwRI – Session Chairs

Paper #040 – Data Centers Coupled with Pumped Thermal Energy Storage System: Implementation and System Performance Evaluation – Ladislav Vesely, Echogen Power Systems – Presentation

Paper #041 – Evaluation of Off-Design Performance of sCO2 Pumped Thermal Energy Storage System - Diana Jones, Echogen Power Systems – Presentation

Paper #074 – Testing and Modeling of Subscale Ice-on-Coil Module as Low Temperature Reservoir for sCO2 based Pumped Thermal Energy Storage Systems – Vamshi K. Avadhanula, Echogen Power Systems – Presentation

Paper #076 – Techno-economic Analysis of Energy Storage System Utilizing the STEP Facility Owen Pryor, SwRI – Presentation

Paper #080 – Techno-economic analysis of sCO2 Carnot batteries in ancillary services markets – Ana Sanchez Sanz, KTH, Royal Institute of Technology – Presentation

System Concepts
Eric Clementoni, Naval Nuclear Laboratory; Colin du Sart, University of Cape Town; David Sanchez, University of Seville and Tim Held, Echogen – Session Chairs

Paper #003 – Development of A Reversible Heating and Cooling System Using CO2 As A Refrigerant For Industrial Customers and Residential Areas with Heating and Cooling Requirements – Amouiriche Badr, Reutlingen Research Institute at Reutlingen University Germany – Presentation

Paper #023 – Developing A Technology Roadmap for STEP’s sCO2 – Jack Acres, UKIFS – Presentation

Paper #026 – Proof-of-Concept Demonstration of a Closed-Loop CO2 Power Cycle for Spherical Tokamak Fusion Power Plant – Dhinesh Thanganadar, UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd. – Presentation

Paper #038 – Thermodynamic Analysis of GT- CO2 Combined Cycles Utilizing Liquified Natural Gas Cold Energy – Song-Hun Cha, P.E., Doosan Enerbility – Presentation

Paper #042 – Thermal Optimization and Comparative Analysis of Supercritical CO2 and Steam Rankine Cycles Across Source and Sink Conditions – Vlad Goldenberg, SoftInWay – Presentation

Paper #055 – Technoeconomic Analysis of sCO2 Power Cycles Integrated in a Particle-based CSP System Exploring the Influence of Design Parameters at Different Turbine Inlet Temperatures – Ty Neises, National Laboratory of the Rockies – Presentation

Paper #081 – Feasibility of Interstage Cooling for a Geothermal sCO2 Power Plant – Owen Pryor, SwRI – Presentation

Paper #093 – Natural Refrigerant, Industrial High Temperature Heat Pump – Marc Portnoff, Thar Energy – Presentation

Turbines
Rene Pecnik, TU Delft – Session Chair

Paper #013 – Aerodynamic Design of a Multiphase-Tolerant Turbine for an s CO2 Heat Pump – Jason Wilkes, SwRI – Presentation

Paper #031 – Process Improvement Using CO2 Turbine Expanders – Nick Bogan, EEE – Presentation

Paper #086 – Heat Transfer Experiments of a 1st Stage Blade Cascade for Supercritical CO2 Oxy-Combustion Turbine Application – Michael Marshall, SwRI – Presentation

Turbomachinery
Logan Rapp, Sandia – Session

Paper #035 – Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Nonlinear Density Effects on Windage Loss under High-Density sCO2 - Seungkyu Lee, KAISTPresentation

Paper #046 – Design and Analysis of a 25 MWe Supercritical CO2 Turbo Machine - Wanming Zhang, GE Vernova Advanced Research – Presentation

Materials
Eric Clementoni, Naval Nuclear Laboratory – Session Chair

Paper #033 – Oxidation of Materials and Coatings at 1000°C and 250 bar for use in Oxy-Combustion Turbine – Florent Bocher, SwRI – Presentation

Paper #072 – Degradation of Magnetic Materials for High-Temperature Active Magnetic Bearing Applications in CO2-Based Environments – Wanming Zhang, GE Vernova ARC – Presentation

Paper #087 – Supply Chain Readiness for HAYNES® Nickel-Based Alloys in sCO2 Applications – Brett Tossey, Haynes International – Presentation

Posters

Paper #021 – Design and Optimization of a High-Efficiency Supercritical CO2 Brayton Cycle System – Mingxiang Lin, Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academic of Sciences – Poster

Paper #024 – Design and Evaluation of a sCO2 Pin-Fin Cold Plate for Motor Cooling- Ethan Neuwrith-Guerra, Penn State – Poster

Paper #027 – Effects of Prandtl’s Secondary Flows of the Second Kind on sCO2 Heat Transfer– Nicholas-Lopes, Penn State – Poster

Paper #034 – Extended Phase Diagram of Supercritical Carbon Dioxide and its Applications – Raad Haque, University of North Texas – Poster

Paper #048 – Modeling sCO2 Power Cycles with Twine: A Composable, Open-Source Framework in Rust – John Dyreby, Isentropic Development – Poster

Paper #051 – Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Power Cycle Modeling and Additive Manufactured Turbine Experimentation – Anthony Grotjan, UW-Madison Solar Energy Lab – Poster

Paper #056 – Verification of Settle Out Condition Prediction Methods for Supercritical Transformational Electric Power (STEP) 10 MWe Pilot Scale Power Plant – Jon Wade, SwRI – Poster

Paper #068 – Simulation and Analysis of Heat-Transfer Effects in Dense-Gas Turbulent Cylinder Flows – Anjini Chandra, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University – Poster

Paper #093 – Natural Refrigerant, Industrial High Temperature Heat Pump – Marc Portnoff, Thar Energy – Poster

Poster #096 – Measuring Supercritical CO2 Density Using Raman Spectroscopy – Jinbo Chen – Poster