you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] 31 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (4 children)

china already have a supercritical carbon dioxide system integrated into a functioning powergrid and operating commercially. The system exploits an exotic phase of co2 which expands to fill a volume like gas, but moves frictionlessly through tubes as a liquid. There are concerns about lifespan because of how caustic the system is, but apparently some new materials are being trialled which negate this.

  • source
  • hideshow 4 child comments
  • [–] 11 points 8 months ago (1 child)

    Heat pumps are the next evolution of the "it's just steam again isn't it?" meme.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
  • [–] 3 points 8 months ago

    They trying to make them with work with either memory alloys or with magnetic materials.

    Same principle have something can go hot and cold based on some external control. But they will be done on solid materials not fluids.

  • source
  • parent