This cycle begins by burning a gaseous fuel with oxygen and a hot, high-pressure, recycled supercritical CO2 working fluid in a combustor.
[11][12][13][14] gas In order for the system to achieve high thermal efficiency, a close temperature approach is needed on the high-temperature side of the primary heat exchanger.
When burning natural gas as a fuel, this basic configuration has been modeled to achieve an efficiency up to 60% (LHV) as a power cycle net of all parasitic loads, including the energy-intensive ASU.
[15][16] Construction began in March 2016 in La Porte, Texas on a 50 MWth industrial test facility to showcase the Allam-Fetvedt Cycle, finishing in 2017.
In 2018, the Allam-Fetvedt Cycle and supporting technologies were validated,[17] allowing OEMs to certify components for use with future production plants.
On November 15, 2021, at approximately 7:40 pm EST the test facility successfully synchronized to the ERCOT grid[18] proving that the Allam Fetvedt Cycle was capable of generating power at 60 Hz.