Specifics of thermophysical properties and forced-convective heat transfer at critical and supercritical pressures

Abstract

Investigation of heat transfer at supercritical pressures began as early as the 1930s, with the study of free-convection heat transfer to fluids at the near-critical point. In the 1950s, the concept of using supercritical “steam” to increase the thermal efficiency of fossil-fired power plants became an attractive option. Currently, using supercritical “steam” in fossil-fired power plants is the largest industrial application of fluids at supercritical pressures.