Abstract: A system for timely standby power generation supplementing a solar array during periods of cloud coverage, including a power plant comprising solar arrays for normal power production during periods of maximum or reduced solar influx, and distributed generating sets (DGS) for standby power generation to supplement the solar arrays during periods of cloud coverage. A weather station has sensors for acquiring real-time meteorological data in the vicinity of the power plant and a processor for processing the acquired meteorological data so as to generate data related to a solar influx reduction event at the power plant including an event starting time. A controller receives the event data from the processor and operating the DGS in response to the received event data.

Abstract: A heat exchanger has a wind deflector extending along a long side of a finned heat exchange tube array.

Abstract: A geothermal based, binary cycle power plant is provided, comprising: a vaporizer for vaporizing pre-heated organic motive fluid by means of geothermal steam; two organic vapor turbines operating in parallel and coupled to a common generator, each of said turbines being driven by vaporized organic motive fluid supplied to each turbine; two recuperators for heating the organic motive fluid by means of a corresponding organic vapor turbine discharge; and two condensers for condensing heat depleted motive fluid exiting said two recuperators, respectively. A geothermal steam condensate recovery system is also provided, comprising a source of geothermal steam for vaporizing a organic motive fluid and producing geothermal steam condensate, and conduit means through which geothermal steam condensate is delivered to a supply of cooling liquid used to condense the organic motive fluid, the delivered geothermal steam condensate serving as make-up liquid for evaporated cooling liquid.

Abstract: A closed Rankine cycle power plant using an organic working fluid includes a solar trough collector for heating an organic working fluid, a flash vaporizer for vaporizing the heated organic working fluid, a turbine receiving and expanding the vaporized organic working fluid for producing power or electricity, a condenser for condensing the expanded organic working fluid and a pump for circulating the condensed organic working fluid to the solar trough collector. Heated organic working fluid in the flash vaporizer that is not vaporized is returned to the solar trough collector.

Abstract: An apparatus for increasing the efficiency of a multi-heat source power plant includes a thermal collector having access to heat from a solar collector as a heat source for heating a fluid to a first temperature; a second heat source for heating the fluid; a heat exchanger that transfers heat to the fluid which is heated to said first temperature, to raise the temperature of the fluid to a higher temperature; and a power generation cycle using the fluid, heated to the first temperature, as a motive fluid.

Abstract: For increasing power plant efficiency during periods of variable heat input or at partial loads, a motive fluid is cycled through a Rankine cycle power plant having a vaporizer and a superheater such that the motive fluid is delivered to a turbine at a selected inlet temperature at full admission. A percentage of a superheated portion of the motive fluid is adjusted during periods of variable heat input or at partial loads while virtually maintaining the inlet temperature and power plant thermal efficiency.

Abstract: In a method for increasing power plant efficiency during periods of variable heat input or at partial loads, a motive fluid is cycled through a Rankine cycle power plant having a vaporizer and a superheater such that the motive fluid is delivered to a turbine at a selected inlet temperature at full admission. A percentage of a superheated portion of the motive fluid during periods of variable heat input or at partial loads is adjusted while substantially maintaining the inlet temperature and a power plant thermal efficiency. A Rankine Cycle power plant includes a conduit circuit extending from a heat source to each of a vaporizer section and a superheater section for regulating flow therethrough of source heat fluid.

Abstract: A solar power plant in a new split configuration of a solar Brayton cycle or Brayton/Rankine combined cycle which comprises an array of heliostat mounted mirrors, a solar receiver and a high pressure section of a Brayton cycle power plant mounted near a top of a solar tower, a low pressure section of the Brayton Cycle power plant and the electric generator mounted near or at ground level.

Abstract: A method for preventing damage to a downhole pump impeller of a downhole pump includes setting a rotatable part of a downhole pump to a selected depth, monitoring the depth of the rotatable part, determining that the depth of the rotatable part has significantly changed, and taking a corrective action to return the depth of the rotatable part to said selected depth in order to prevent damage to an impeller that is liable to be caused by a change in depth of the rotatable part. The downhole pump further has a line shaft, an impeller engaged with the line shaft for pressurizing fluid to be extracted from a well, and monitoring apparatus for monitoring the depth of a distal end of the line shaft in order to prevent damage to the impeller that is liable to be caused by a change in depth of the distal end.

Abstract: The present invention provides a power and regasification system based on liquefied natural gas (LNG), comprising a vaporizer by which liquid motive fluid is vaporized, said liquid motive fluid being LNG or a motive fluid liquefied by means of LNG; a turbine for expanding the vaporized motive fluid and producing power; heat exchanger means to which expanded motive fluid vapor is supplied, said heat exchanger means also being supplied with LNG for receiving heat from said expanded fluid vapor, whereby the temperature of the LNG increases as it flows through the heat exchanger means; a conduit through which said motive fluid is supplied from at least the outlet of said heat exchanger to the inlet of said; and a line for transmitting regasified LNG.

Abstract: A waste heat recovery system includes a high pressure turbine and a low pressure turbine, in which the high pressure turbine receives high pressure working fluid vapor, the low pressure turbine receives low pressure working fluid vapor and the high pressure turbine also supplies low pressure working fluid vapor to the low pressure turbine. A recuperator receives working fluid vapor from the low pressure turbine. The recuperator produces heated condensate, at least a portion of which is provided to a high pressure vaporizer. The high pressure vaporizer is configured to receive from a high temperature heat source and produces high pressure working vapor used to power the high pressure turbine. The remaining condensed fluid is provided to a low pressure vaporizer which is configured to receive heat from a low-temperature heat source, thereby producing low pressure working fluid vapor used to power the low pressure turbine.

Abstract: A system for timely standby power generation supplementing a solar array during periods of cloud coverage, including a power plant comprising solar arrays for normal power production during periods of maximum or reduced solar influx, and distributed generating sets (DGS) for standby power generation to supplement the solar arrays during periods of cloud coverage. A weather station has sensors for acquiring real-time meteorological data in the vicinity of the power plant and a processor for processing the acquired meteorological data so as to generate data related to a solar influx reduction event at the power plant including an event starting time. A controller receives the event data from the processor and operating the DGS in response to the received event data.

Abstract: A gas turbine exhaust gas cooling system includes a conduit for a primary gas turbine exhaust gas extending from the primary gas turbine to an inlet of a desired industrial process apparatus, a work producing thermodynamic cycle in which a working fluid is heated and expanded, and at least one heat exchanger by which heat is sufficiently transferred from the primary gas turbine exhaust gas to the working fluid to produce a low temperature heating medium downstream of the heat exchanger at a predetermined temperature and energy level which are sufficient for effecting a desired industrial process.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for operating a plurality of independent, closed cycle power plant modules each having a vaporizer comprising the steps of serially supplying a medium or low temperature source fluid to each corresponding vaporizer of one or more first plant modules, respectively, to a secondary preheater of a first module, and to a vaporizer of a terminal module, whereby to produce heat depleted source fluid; providing a primary preheater for each vaporizer; and supplying said heat depleted source fluid to all of said primary preheaters in parallel.

Abstract: For operating a multi-heat source power plant, including a thermal collector having access to heat from a solar collector as a first heat source for heating a first fluid to a first temperature, a topping power generation cycle using the first fluid as a motive fluid, and a geothermal second heat source for heating a second motive fluid, which is different from said first motive fluid, to a second temperature lower than the first temperature, a heat exchanger transfers heat from the first fluid to the second fluid to raise the temperature of the second fluid to a higher temperature. A bottoming power generation cycle uses said second fluid, heated to the higher temperature, as a motive fluid.

Abstract: A heliostat includes a heliostat frame and a plurality of reflective surfaces, each reflective surface is movably mounted within the heliostat frame. The heliostat also includes a plurality of actuators, wherein each individual actuator of the plurality of actuators is associated with a single reflective surface of the plurality reflective surfaces and capable of moving the single reflective surface.

Abstract: A power system includes a Rankine cycle local generator having a capacity greater than a maximum anticipated power level. One or more control devices are operatively connected to the local generator for regulating active and reactive power generated by the generator. Detectors are provided to sense active and reactive voltages. The controller directs the control devices to regulate the generator such that the active power and reactive power are sufficient to satisfy the active and reactive load conditions.

Abstract: A geothermal based, binary cycle power plant is provided, comprising: a vaporizer for vaporizing pre-heated organic motive fluid by means of geothermal steam; two organic vapor turbines operating in parallel and coupled to a common generator, each of said turbines being driven by vaporized organic motive fluid supplied to each turbine; two recuperators for heating the organic motive fluid by means of a corresponding organic vapor turbine discharge; and two condensers for condensing heat depleted motive fluid exiting said two recuperators, respectively. A geothermal steam condensate recovery system is also provided, comprising a source of geothermal steam for vaporizing a organic motive fluid and producing geothermal steam condensate, and conduit means through which geothermal steam condensate is delivered to a supply of cooling liquid used to condense the organic motive fluid, the delivered geothermal steam condensate serving as make-up liquid for evaporated cooling liquid.

Abstract: According to present invention, a method is provided for operating a multi-heat source power plant using a low-medium temperature heat source fluid, wherein the multi-heat source power plant includes a turbine or expander run by an organic motive fluid, comprising preheating the organic motive fluid using the low-medium temperature heat source fluid and thereafter providing further heat from an additional heat source to vaporize the motive fluid which is supplied to the turbine or expander. Furthermore, in an embodiment of the present invention, the present invention provides an apparatus comprising a heat exchanger suitable to pre-heat an organic motive fluid with a low-medium temperature geothermal fluid, and solar energy collecting means suitable to directly or indirectly provide heat to the pre-heated organic motive fluid for heating and vaporizing the motive fluid.

Abstract: A power system is provided for delivering a custom level of electrical power to an industrial or commercial facility, comprising a local generator connected to a turbine operating in accordance with an organic Rankine cycle, the local generator having a capacity at least greater than a maximum anticipated power level needed for the electrical needs of a local industrial or commercial facility, one or more control devices operatively connected to the local generator for regulating active and reactive power generated by the generator, a detector for sensing active voltage induced by said generator, a detector for sensing reactive voltage produced by the generator, and a controller in electrical communication with said one or more control devices and with the active and reactive voltage detectors, wherein the controller directs the one or more control devices to regulate the generator such that the active power and reactive power generated by the generator are sufficient to satisfy active and reactive load condi