Abstract: A thermal energy peaking/intermediate power plant is disclosed having an atmospheric Fluidized Bed Combustor (FBC) for heating compressed air which is input to a turbine. Low-grade fuels such as coal may be combusted in the FBC, eliminating the need for additional combustors requiring premium fuels.

Abstract: A peaking/intermediate power plant is disclosed having a compression mode in which air is compressed and stored in a storage device and an expansion mode in which such stored compressed air is initially pre-heated by exhaust gas in a recuperator, expanded without combustion in a high pressure turbine, combined with fuel and combusted in a low pressure combustor, expanded in a low pressure turbine, and supplied to the recuperator as exhaust gas of sufficient temperature to heat the compressed air enough to eliminate the need for is combustion prior to supply to the high pressure turbine.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for retrofitting a plurality of gas turbines for use in compression and expansion stages of a power plant. A first gas turbine is modified to perform as a motor driven air compressor compressing air and storing such compressed air in an air storage device. A second gas turbine is modified to perform as a generator driving expander in which air previously compressed is expanded in a turbine thus generating power.

Abstract: A heat recuperator is disclosed having a plurality of serially connected tube sections enclosing a gas which is to be heated by exposing the tube sections to a second gas of elevated temperature. Parallel-flow and/or counter-flow sections of tube sections are provided such that the temperature of the tube section does not decrease below the dew point of the second gas. A particularly significant application is in the area of Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) systems in which the recuperator is utilized to preheat air from a storage cavern prior to combustion.

Abstract: A thermal energy peaking/intermediate power plant is disclosed having a compression mode in which thermal energy is produced and stored in a thermal energy storage device and an expansion mode in which such stored thermal energy is utilized to produce steam from water and inject such steam into a combustion process.

Abstract: A combined solar converter which has a photovoltaic cell for converting the energy of solar radiation of a particular range of wavelengths to electricity and which has a thermal heat absorber spaced from the cell which converts solar radiation of longer wavelengths passing from the cell to useful heat.A method of utilizing solar energy comprising the step of subjecting a photovoltaic cell to solar radiation to convert energy of a particular range of wavelengths to which the cell is sensitive to electricity and transferring long wave radiations passing from a cell to a heat absorber spaced from the cell where the energy of the long wave radiation is transferred to useful heat.

Abstract: An ion sensor probe for constant monitoring of the pH level of a solution in a scrubbing system. The probe includes a tubular housing having a plug member inserted at one end thereof. The plug member supports an ion sensor cell and a reference cell in a side-by-side relationship. Each of the cells has one end exposed for contacting the solution. The plug member encloses the one end of the ion sensor cell to form a chamber which communicates with a bore in the plug member. A cleaning fluid of water and an acidic solution can be independently admitted into the chamber to cleanse the one end of the ion sensor cell. The probe is inserted into a well member shaped to receive the probe and having one end configured so as to permit only a portion of the solution to contact the ion sensor cell.

Abstract: A water-cooled nuclear reactor is provided with a passive emergency shutdown and core cooling capability by providing it with emergency fuel element dispersal means operable from internal energy contained within the reactor pressure vessel for dispersing the core fuel content into an adjacent heat sink. In a preferred embodiment, the reactor is provided with especially designed fuel elements and fuel element guides to permit passive emergency core dispersal. The reactor shutdown mechanism also facilitates reactor refueling and permits selective on-line refueling during normal reactor operation.