Abstract: A system and a method are provided that may be used to control the temperature of steam being reheated by a moisture separator reheater (MSR). One embodiment provides a system including a steam turbine, a moisture separator reheater coupled to the steam turbine, and a controller programmed to control a temperature of steam leaving the moisture separator reheater based at least in part on sensor feedback. The controller is programmed to facilitate substantially smooth linear temperature ramping.

Abstract: A variable valve timing control apparatus includes an abnormality determining portion and a valve controller. The abnormality determining portion determines whether there is an abnormality in a system of a VCT phase control in which an oil pressure control valve is controlled in a manner that an actual VCT phase coincides with a target phase. The valve controller controls the oil pressure control valve to drive a lock pin in a locking direction so as to lock the VCT phase when the abnormality determining portion determines that there is an abnormality in the system of the VCT phase control.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus of processing material having an organic content. The method comprises heating a batch of the material (“E”) in a batch processing apparatus (16) having a reduced oxygen atmosphere to gasify at least some of the organic content to produce syngas, The temperature of the syngas is then elevated and maintained at the elevated temperature in a thermal treatment: apparatus (18) for a residence time sufficient to thermally break down any long chain hydrocarbons or volatile organic compounds therein. The calorific value of the syngas produced is monitored by sensors (26) and, when the calorific value of the syngas is below a predefined threshold, the syngas having a low calorific value is diverted to a burner of a boiler (22) to produce steam to drive a steam turbine (36) to produce electricity (“H”).

Abstract: A method for producing power from geothermal fluid includes: separating the geothermal fluid in a flash tank into geothermal vapor comprising steam and non-condensable gases, and geothermal brine; supplying the geothermal vapor to a vaporizer; vaporizing a preheated motive fluid in the vaporizer using heat from the geothermal vapor to produce heat-depleted geothermal vapor and vaporized motive fluid, wherein the heat content in the geothermal vapor exiting the flash tank is only enough to vaporize the preheated motive fluid in the vaporizer; expanding the vaporized motive fluid in a vapor turbine producing power and expanded vaporized motive fluid; condensing the expanded vaporized motive fluid in a condenser to produce condensed motive fluid; and preheating the condensed motive fluid in a preheater using heat from the heat-depleted geothermal vapor and the geothermal brine, thereby producing the preheated motive fluid, make-up water and heat-depleted geothermal brine.

Abstract: High-temperature solar thermal systems and methods are described. In one aspect, a system is described that includes a heat engine power conversion system, or a “heat engine,” with a fluid working medium. The heat engine includes a first input, a second input, and a heat exchanger. The first input receives heated high temperature tolerant particles, or “heated particles,” from a solar energy collection and distribution component that is coupled to the heat engine. The heat engine's second input receives the working fluid medium used to drive the power cycle in the heat engine. The heat exchanger transfers heat from the received heated particles to the working fluid medium, and thereby, energized the heat engine's power cycle.

Abstract: A scroll compressor including a fixed scroll having a fixed wrap; and an orbiting scroll having an orbiting wrap engaged with the fixed wrap to form compression chambers, and performing an orbital motion with respect to the fixed scroll, wherein at least one of the fixed wrap and the orbiting wrap has a first constant section, a variable section, and a second constant section consecutively formed in a direction from a wrap final end to a wrap initial end.

Abstract: A startup system for a solar boiler includes a main fluid circuit having a plurality of solar boiler panels for generating power from solar energy. An auxiliary fluid circuit is selectively connected in fluid communication with the main fluid circuit by a plurality of valves. An auxiliary boiler is operatively connected to the auxiliary fluid circuit. The valves connecting the auxiliary fluid circuit to the main fluid circuit are configured to be opened and closed to selectively place the auxiliary boiler in fluid communication with portions of the main fluid circuit to supply heat to the portions of the main fluid circuit in preparation to produce power from solar energy.

Abstract: A controller of a valve timing control apparatus executes an initial control and a normal control. The normal control causes a rotation phase of a vane rotor to be changed by controlling working fluid to flow into or out of operation chambers. The initial control causes working fluid to intermittently flow into a predetermined operation chamber of the operation chambers. The controller starts the initial control when an engine is activated. The controller switches the initial control into the normal control after the initial control is finished.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ORC (Organic Rankine Cycle) for the conversion of thermal energy into electric energy, comprising at least one heat exchanger unit for re-superheating the working fluid by means of the thermovector fluid from the hot source, between the discharge of the first expander and the input of the second expander, and a regenerator unit including a first regenerator and at least one second regenerator for regenerating the working fluid in at least two successive stages, in said first regenerator and at least in said second regenerator respectively, with an additional regenerative heat exchange along the flow line connecting the liquid working fluid output of the second regenerator to the liquid working fluid input of the first regenerator.

Abstract: A Rankine cycle device includes a heat exchanger for supplying heat to a working fluid and an expansion device for expanding the working fluid. A valve is disposed between the heat exchanger and the expansion device and a cooling device is reduces a temperature of the working fluid. A pump moves the working fluid through the Rankine cycle device and a sensor is used to sense a pressure of the working fluid. A controller is operable to open the valve based upon the sensed pressure of the working fluid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus, systems, and methods of managing large quantities of low-grade waste heat energy by 1) generating excess electric power via an ORC process driven by the removal and recovery of waste heat under favorable operating conditions, and 2) utilizing the same apparatus to provide waste heat removal via a refrigeration process that consumes electric power when environmental conditions do not permit operation in the ORC mode. The mode of operation of the system is principally determined by the thermal energy of the waste heat stream and the availability, or lack thereof, of adequate cooling resources. Such resources are often subject to local environmental conditions, particularly ambient temperature which varies on a diurnal and annual basis.

Abstract: A carbon dioxide recovery system includes a high-pressure 11, a boiler 15, a carbon dioxide recovery unit 24 that includes a carbon dioxide absorber 21 that absorbs and reduces carbon dioxide in flue gas G emitted from the boiler 15 using a carbon dioxide absorbent and an absorbent regenerator 23 that regenerates a carbon dioxide absorbent having absorbed the carbon dioxide using a regenerating superheater 22 to obtain a regenerated carbon dioxide absorbent, a high-temperature and high-pressure steam extraction line L11 that extracts the high-temperature and high-pressure steam 14 from the boiler 15 before the steam is introduced into the high-pressure turbine 11, an auxiliary turbine 32 that recovers power with the high-temperature and high-pressure steam 14, and a steam supply line L12 that supplies emission steam 33 emitted from the auxiliary turbine 32 to the regenerating superheater 22 to be used as a heat source.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of extracting geothermal energy, generally comprising the steps of: insertion of a thermal mass into a Heat Absorption Zone, absorbing heat in thermal mass, raising the thermal mass to a Heat Transfer Zone, and transferring the heat from the thermal mass. The acquired heat can be used to generate electricity or to drive an industrial process. The thermal mass can have internal chambers containing a liquid such as molten salt, and can also have structures facilitating heat exchange using a thermal exchange fluid, such as a gas or a glycol-based fluid. In some embodiments, two thermal masses are used as counterweights, reducing the energy consumed in bringing the heat in the thermal masses to the surface. In other embodiments, solid or molten salt can be directly supplied to a well shaft to acquire geothermal heat and returned to the surface in a closed loop system.

Abstract: A power station system operable to generate energy and comprising a heat engine system and a hydraulic system connected thereto. The heat engine system comprises n number of energy cells, wherein n is an integer, and n?2, a heat source connected to the energy cells, and a cooler means connected to the energy cells. Each energy cell is operable to generate a pressurized fluid when a phase change material (PCM), comprised in each energy cell, changes from solid phase to liquid phase, and the energy cells are operable between a first phase, and a second phase. During the first phase, a first n/2 of the energy cells produce pressurized fluid, and a second n/2 of the energy cells are cooling down, and during the second phase, the first n/2 of the energy cells are cooling down, and a second n/2 of the energy cells produce pressurized fluid. The hydraulic system comprises a pressure transducer, and a hydraulic motor connected thereto, and is operable to generate a constant rotation speed.

Abstract: A temperature differential engine device includes a low-boiling-point medium steam turbine (1), a heat absorber (2), a thermal-insulating type low-temperature countercurrent heat exchanger (3), a circulating pump (4), and a refrigerating system (5) which are interconnected to constitute a closed circulating system filled with low-boiling-point medium fluid. The low-boiling-point medium steam turbine (1) and the heat absorber (2) constitute a low-density-medium heat-absorbing working system, and the circulating pump (4) and the refrigerating system (5) constitute a high-density-medium refrigerating-circulating system. The temperature differential engine device can transfer thermal energy into mechanical energy.

Abstract: An assembly including a rotatable shaft with external splines and an annular member receiving such shaft, provided with internal splines meshing with the external splines of such shaft wherein the external splines of different segments of the shaft are configured to effectively transmit torque in use and facilitate the mounting of the shaft into the annular member in assembly.

Abstract: An HRSG for fluidized bed gasification comprises a high temperature evaporator (200), a superheater (300), a low temperature evaporator (400), and an economizer (500) connected in series. The superheater (300), the low temperature evaporator (400) and the economizer (500) have a water-tube structure, and the high temperature evaporator (200) has a fire-tube structure. The HRSG of the present invention allows efficient heat recovery from the raw syngas of a fluidized bed coal gasifier, while avoids or reduces the corrosion of and damage to the components of the HRSG caused by high-speed ash particles in the syngas.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein that generally involve a double pinch criterion for optimization of regenerative Rankine cycles. In some embodiments, operating variables such as bleed extraction pressure and bleed flow rate are selected such that a double pinch is obtained in a feedwater heater, thereby improving the efficiency of the Rankine cycle. In particular, a first pinch point is obtained at the onset of condensation of the bleed and a second pinch point is obtained at the exit of the bleed from the feedwater heater. The minimal approach temperature at the first pinch point can be approximately equal to the minimal approach temperature at the second pinch point. Systems that employ regenerative Rankine cycles, methods of operating such systems, and methods of optimizing the operation of such systems are disclosed herein in connection with the double pinch criterion.

Abstract: A system for utilizing waste heat of an internal combustion engine via the Clausius-Rankine cycle process is provided that includes a circuit with lines containing a working medium, an evaporator heat exchanger which serves for evaporating the liquid working medium using waste heat of the internal combustion engine and which has an inlet opening for conducting the working medium into a flow duct and an outlet opening for conducting the working medium out of the flow duct, and the flow duct is divided into a plurality of flow duct parts connected hydraulically in parallel, an expansion machine, a condenser for liquefying the vaporous working medium, a collecting and compensating vessel for the liquid working medium, it is sought to be able to change the working medium substantially completely from a liquid state of aggregation to a gaseous state of aggregation at an evaporator heat exchanger.

Abstract: A high efficiency OTEC service station for supporting a novel high efficiency ocean thermal energy conversion system. The high efficiency OTEC service station generally includes a semi-submersible platform positioned in a warm ocean location. The station includes an upper deck having an interior which stores one or more fluid pumps, generators and turbines for use in generating electrical power. A lower deck having an interior stores one or more working fluid tanks, water storage tanks and spent working fluid tanks. Three heater assemblies are provided for heating working fluid at various stages of an OTEC cycle and for use in creating potable water for other applications. A heat exchanger extends from the lower deck, which also includes one or more buoyancy tanks. By utilizing a novel approach to ocean thermal energy conversion, the OTEC service station achieves greater efficiency and lower operating costs than prior art systems.