Abstract: An externally fired gas turbine system has a compressor for compressing ambient air and producing compressed air, an indirect-contact air heat exchanger for heating the compressed air to produce heated compressed air, an air turbine for expanding the heated and compressed air to produce expanded air, and a generator connected to the turbine for generating electricity that is supplied to a load. The system also includes a source of energy including solar energy, oil shale, solid waste fuel, land fill gas, biomass, or combinations thereof, and/or solid, liquid, or gaseous hydrocarbon fuels, for adding heat to the compressed air in the air heat exchanger and producing heat depleted gases that exit the air heat exchanger.

Abstract: A stream of non-condensable gases that include hydrogen sulfide which are produced by a geothermal plant are disposed of by first compressing at least a part of the stream to form compressed gases. Spent geothermal liquid produced by the power plant is pressurized, and directly contacted with the compressed gases to produce an effluent containing substantially all of the hydrogen sulfide, which can be disposed of in a re-injection well, and a stream of pressurized gases substantially free of hydrogen sulfide which can be released to the atmosphere. Before the stream of pressurized gases are released to the atmosphere, such stream preferably is expanded in a turbine for producing power. Also, preferably, this power so produced is used to compress the non-condensable gases thus reducing the net power consumed. In a further alternative, where chemicals are utilized, almost all of the hydrogen sulfide is stripped from the stream of gases.

Abstract: An externally fired gas turbine system according to the present invention has a compressor for compressing ambient air and producing compressed air, an air heat exchanger for heating the compressed air to produce heated compressed air, a turbine for expanding the heated compressed air to produce heat depleted expanded air, and a generator connected to the turbine for generating electricity. According to the present invention, the system also includes combustible products producing apparatus for processing fuel to produce combustible products that include combustible gases and an external combustion chamber for burning the combustible products and transferring heat to the air heat exchanger and producing heat depleted combustion products. The system also includes a closed Rankine cycle steam power plant having a water heat exchanger for vaporizing water and producing steam using heat contained in the heat depleted combustion products.

Abstract: An energy recovery, pressure reducing system for reducing high pressure gas in a transmission pipeline to a low pressure gas in a consumer pipeline includes an expander system having at least one expander for expanding the high pressure gas and producing work and low pressure gas that is supplied to the consumer pipeline, and a generator coupled to said expander for converting the work to electricity which is supplied to an electrical load. The system further includes apparatus including an on/off valve serially connected to a pressure regulating valve, the apparatus being connected in parallel with the expander system. The on/off valve has an open state for effecting transmission of gas through the pressure regulating valve which has an adjustable flow control opening for throttling high pressure gas and producing low pressure gas when the on/off valve is in its open state; and a closed state for preventing transmission of gas through the pressure regulating valve.

Abstract: Power is produced from high presser geothermal fluid by separating the fluid into high pressure steam and high pressure brine, expanding the high pressure steam in a high pressure turbogenerator for producing power and heat depleted steam, and separating liquid from the heat depleted steam thereby producing dried heat depleted steam at a pressure and temperature lower than the pressure and temperature of the high pressure steam. The liquid so separated, and the high pressure brine are combined in a flash chamber which produces steam which is combined with the dried heat depleted steam and expanded in a lower pressure turbogenerator for producing additional power. Optionally, some of the high pressure steam is used to reheat the dried heat depleted steam and the steam produced by the flash chamber before such steam is expanded in the lower pressure turbogenerator.

Abstract: Apparatus for generating power includes a gas turbine unit having a compressor for compressing ambient air and producing compressed air, a combustion chamber to which the compressed air is supplied, a source of relatively high grade fuel for burning in the combustion chamber and producing combustion gases, and a gas turbine connected to generator and to the compressor for expanding the combustion gases and producing exhaust gases. The apparatus further includes a combustor that burns relatively low grade fuel, and produces combustion products, and an indirect contact heat exchanger responsive to the combustion products for heating the compressed air before the latter is applied to the combustion chamber, and for producing cooled combustion products. In addition, an energy converter is provided having an organic working fluid responsive to the exhaust gases for converting heat in the exhaust gases to electricity.

Abstract: Power is produced using a two-phase geothermal fluid, utilizing a separator for separating the geothermal fluid into a steam branch and a brine branch. A vaporizer, containing an organic fluid, is responsive to the steam in the steam branch for producing vaporized organic fluid and cooled steam. A preheater receives the brine in the brine branch and steam condensate from the vaporizer for transferring sensible heat to the organic fluid before the brine and steam condensate are disposed of. An organic vapor turbine is responsive to the vaporized organic fluid produced by the vaporizer for generating electricity and producing organic vapor that exits the turbine. A recuperator is provided for receiving the organic vapor that exits the turbine and heating liquid organic fluid, thereby producing heat depleted organic fluid. A condenser is responsive to the heat depleted organic fluid for condensing the same into liquid organic fluid.

Abstract: A method for using a two-phase fluid includes separating the fluid into its two phases, one of which is a hot gas containing energy in the form of latent heat, and one of which is a hot liquid containing energy in the form of sensible heat; converting sensible heat in the liquid to sensible heat in a working fluid for producing preheated working fluid; and transferring latent heat in the gas to the preheated working fluid for vaporizing the same at substantially constant temperature and pressure.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a method for supplying solid material such as hot carbonaceous material from a pyrolyzer or reactor to a furnace, is provided comprising providing a screw conveyor for receiving the solid carbonaceous material from the pyrolyzer or reactor preferably from above the conveyor and transporting it along its length to a vaned rotor preferably positioned on the axle of the screw conveyor preferably substantially near the end of the screw conveyor for supplying the carbonaceous material to the furnace.

Abstract: A gas turbine system with a heat recovery cycle includes a gas turbine unit that produces hot exhaust gases which are applied to a heat recovery heat exchanger containing a working fluid responsive to applied hot gases for producing vaporized working fluid and cooled gases which are vented. A turbine connected to a generator and responsive to the vaporized working fluid generates power and produces expanded working fluid. A condenser condenses the expanded vaporized working fluid to condensate which is returned to the heat recovery heat exchanger. A control device (94) controls the temperature of the applied hot gases, based on a sensed temperature (89) and include mixer apparatus (87) for mixing ambient air with the hot exhaust gases and producing a mixture of hot exhaust gases and ambient air before the mixture is applied to the heat recovery heat exchanger.

Abstract: In order to augment the power produced by a gas turbine system of a type having an air compressor for producing compressed air, a combustor for heating the compressed air, and a gas turbine responsive to the heated air for driving the air compressor and the load, cooling air is supplied to the compressor by indirectly contacting the air with water that is chilled by flashing some of the water into a vapor.

Abstract: A geothermal power plant operating on geothermal fluid includes a source of low pressure geothermal steam, and a turbo-generator including a low pressure steam turbine to which the geothermal steam is applied, and a generator coupled to the steam turbine. The low pressure geothermal steam is applied to the turbine, wherein expansion takes place driving the generator, and producing expanded steam that is exhausted from the turbine. A condenser for condensing the expanded steam includes a steam heat exchanger for receiving the expanded steam, a coolant, an air cooled heat exchanger, and a pump to exchange coolant during the steam heat exchanger and the air cooled heat exchanger, in a closed secondary coolant cycle. Preferably, the coolant is water.

Abstract: The power produced by a gas turbine system is augmented by a direct contact heat exchanger for contacting and cooling humid ambient air with cooler water for producing cooled ambient air and warmed water, and a precompressor device for compressing said cooled ambient air to produce pressurized air that is warmer than ambient air and has a lower relative humidity. An evaporative cooler, which is supplied with the warmed water, is provided for cooling said pressurized air to produce cooled pressurized air at about ambient air temperature and relative humidity, which is supplied to the main compressor.

Abstract: An energy recovery, pressure reducing system according to the present invention for reducing high pressure gas in a transmission pipeline to a lower pressure in a consumer pipeline includes a primary pressure regulator or regulating valve having an adjustable flow control opening, the pressure regulating valve being selectively connectable between the transmission and consumer pipelines for throttling the high pressure gas and producing low pressure gas when the primary pressure regulator or regulating valve connects the pipelines. A bypass line shunts the primary pressure regulator or regulating valve for connecting the pipelines when the primary pressure regulating valve is disconnected from the pipelines. The bypass line includes an expander system having at least one expander for expanding the high pressure gas in the gas transmission pipeline and producing work and lower pressure gas that is supplied to the consumer pipeline.

Abstract: The horizontal distance traveled by droplets of starting solution sprayed into a gaseous medium above a catch basin, where the gaseous medium has a horizontal velocity component is controlled by controlling the size of the droplets as a function of the horizontal velocity component.

Abstract: Power is produced from geothermal fluid containing non-condensable gases whose main constituent is carbon-dioxide. The geothermal fluid is separated into steam and geothermal liquid, the steam being applied to a steam turbine which produces power. The steam exiting the turbine indirectly condensed by an organic fluid liquid which is vaporized and used to run at least one organic vapor turbine for producing power. Organic vapor exiting the organic vapor turbine is condensed and preheated by the steam condensate. Heat extracted from the geothermal liquid is used to run another organic vapor turbine producing power and cooled geothermal liquid which is combined with the cooled steam condensate to form a mixture to which the non-condensable gases are added to form an effluent that is injected into a re-injection well.

Abstract: A power plant operating on geothermal steam containing more than about 5% non-condensable gases includes a topping steam turbine for expanding the steam to produce power and from which exhaust steam is extracted at a pressure above atmospheric pressure, and an indirect contact heat exchanger containing clean water for condensing the exhaust steam at a pressure above atmospheric pressure to produce geothermal steam condensate, and for consequently vaporizing the clean water to produce clean steam. The non-condensable gases contained in the geothermal steam are extracted from the heat exchanger and, being at a pressure above atmospheric pressure, can be injected, without being further pressurized, directly into the ground. The clean steam produced by the heat exchanger is applied to a bottoming steam turbine which expands the clean steam to produce power and from which clean exhaust steam is extracted.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing from a source of geothermal fluid that contains a mixture of high pressure steam, brine and noncondensable gases includes a heat exchanger for receiving geothermal fluid and transferring heat to water thereby vaporizing the same to produce steam. At least one power plant module is involved, the module having a steam turbine responsive to steam produced by the heat exchanger for producing work, a steam condenser containing an organic fluid and responsive to low pressure steam that exits the steam turbine for condensing the steam into a liquid and vaporizing the organic fluid. The module also contains an organic vapor turbine responsive to vaporizer organic fluid for producing work, and an organic vapor condenser responsive to the low pressure organic fluid that exits the organic vapor turbine condensing the organic vapor to a liquid that is returned to the steam condenser. The cooled geothermal fluid leaving the primary heat exchanger is conducted to a rejection well.

Abstract: An alternator of an internal combustion engine is cooled by oil circulated from an engine crankcase. The oil is sprayed directly on the rotor and stator components. Two pumps deliver oil to and from the alternator, respectively.

Abstract: A portion of solid fuel is pyrolyzed in a pyrolyzer to produce combustible gases and carbonaceous material, the carbonaceous material being supplied from the pyrolyzer to a furnace. A further portion of the solid fuel is added to a furnace and is combusted with the carbonaceous material therein to produce combustion products that include hot flue gases and ash particulate. The combustion products are separated into a plurality of streams, one of which contains coarse ash and another of which contains flue gases and fine ash. A portion of the coarse ash is directed into the pyrolyzer while a further portion is disposed of, preferably by being used to heat air entering the furnace.