Patents Assigned to Ormat Technologies, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8181463
    Abstract: The present invention provides an organic Rankine cycle power system, which comprises means for superheating vaporized organic motive fluid, an organic turbine module coupled to a generator, and a first pipe through which superheated organic motive fluid is supplied to the turbine, wherein the superheating means is a set of coils through which the vaporized organic motive fluid flows and which is in direct heat exchanger relation with waste heat gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: ORMAT Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Dany Batscha, Shlomi Argas, Avinoam Leshem
  • Publication number: 20120109581
    Abstract: The present invention is a diagnostic method for determining the operability of an essential turbine valve, comprising the steps of exercising an essential valve operatively connected to a turbine inlet line through which a power plant motive fluid is supplied to a turbine by causing the essential valve to be partially closed for a predetermined exercising duration; detecting a drop in power produced by an electric generator coupled to the turbine resulting from said partial closing of the essential valve; comparing the detected power drop with a predetermined marginal power drop; and associating the essential valve with an operable status for reliably regulating the flow of motive fluid therethrough when the actual power drop is substantially equal to the predetermined marginal power drop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: Ormat Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Meir REGAL
  • Publication number: 20120055462
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for storing solar collected heat and using the stored heat to produce power, comprising the steps of diverting solar heated fluid at a temperature greater than a predetermined power plant block (PPB) nominal temperature from a heat transfer circuit; transferring heat from the diverted solar heated fluid to a portion of a liquid water storage medium maintained at a temperature significantly less than the predetermined PPB nominal temperature and thermally storing the heated portion; and transferring heat from the heated liquid water storage medium to a fluid during periods of decreased solar radiation levels, whereby to produce power by means of said heated heat transfer fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: Ormat Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Dov BERGER
  • Patent number: 8113765
    Abstract: The present invention provides a water lubricated line shaft bearing assembly, comprising an outer annular steel shell and an inner layer made of low friction material attached to the outer shell, the inner layer having a non-uniform thickness which is formed with wall portions of increased thickness defining a plurality of shaft engaging portions and with wall portions of reduced thickness defining a plurality of lubricant passages. The shaft engaging portions are capable of being journalled on a line shaft adapted to drive a downhole geothermal production pump and the steel shell is engageable with an inner wall of a lubrication tube vertically extending through a water column through which pumped geothermal fluid is delivered, lubrication water bled from the pumped geothermal fluid being used to supply lubrication water through the lubricant passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: ORMAT Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Robert M. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 8061139
    Abstract: The present invention provides an integrated engine generator Rankine cycle power system which increases the efficiency of the use of its power output. The system comprises a closed Rankine cycle power generating unit through which working fluid flows and an engine generator, the closed Rankine cycle power generating unit including a waste heat boiler for vaporizing said working fluid by means of exhaust gases discharged from the engine generator, an expander in which the vaporized working fluid expands and performs work to drive a shaft for producing mechanical power, or an electric generator coupled thereto and adapted to produce electrical power, from both the engine generator and the expander, and an external lubrication system in fluid communication with the expander wherein one or more closed Rankine cycle power generating unit components are operationally connected to the electric generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Ormat Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Lucien Y. Bronicki
  • Publication number: 20110277468
    Abstract: A method for producing power using geothermal liquid produced from geothermal fluid extracted from a geothermal well includes: a) providing a geothermal power plant for producing power indirectly using heat contained in geothermal liquid supplied thereto and produced from geothermal fluid extracted from a geothermal well; and b) providing an indirect heat exchanger means for indirectly heating a solution using heat contained in heat depleted geothermal liquid exiting the geothermal power plant and indirectly transferring heat to the solution producing a heated solution that produces hydrogen for use in producing power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: ORMAT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Oron David ZACHAR
  • Publication number: 20110259010
    Abstract: The present invention provides a waste heat recovery system, comprising a closed fluid circuit through which an organic motive fluid flows, heat exchanger means for transferring heat from waste heat gases to the motive fluid, means for flashing the motive fluid which exits the heat exchanger means into a high pressure flashed vapor portion, means for flashing liquid non-flashed motive fluid producing a low pressure flashed vapor portion, a high pressure turbine module which receives said high pressure flashed vapor portion to produce power, and a low pressure turbine module which receives a combined flow of motive fluid vapor comprising the low pressure flashed vapor portion and discharge vapor from the high pressure turbine module whereby additional power is produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: Ormat Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Lucien Y. Bronicki, Yoram Bronicki
  • Publication number: 20110138810
    Abstract: Apparatus for producing power using geothermal liquid includes a geothermal power plant for producing power using heat contained in geothermal liquid supplied thereto; and heating means apparatus for heating a solution and producing a heated solution for use in a hydrogen producing unit with heat from heat depleted geothermal liquid exiting a vaporizer of the geothermal power plant, wherein the hydrogen producing unit produces hydrogen for use in producing power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2011
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: ORMAT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Oron David ZACHAR
  • Patent number: 7950214
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to auxiliary apparatus for augmenting the pressure head of a gas flowing in a pipeline that may be provided by at least one gas turbine running a first pressure augmenting means, said auxiliary apparatus comprising: a vapor turbine operatively connected to a second pressure augmenting means; first connection means for providing fluid communication between said pipeline and said second pressure augmenting means; second connection means for providing fluid communication between said first pressure augmenting means and said second pressure augmenting means; and heating means for vaporizing a working fluid of said vapor turbine. In one embodiment, a bypass means for said pipeline having a bypass conduit and shut-off valve system are provided for connecting said first pressure augmenting means to the downstream portion of said pipeline via a bypass conduit. In a further embodiment, the vaporizer of the working fluid utilizes the heat of an intermediate fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Ormat Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Lucien Y. Bronicki, Joseph Sinai
  • Publication number: 20110115445
    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
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: Ormat Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: LUCIEN Y. BRONICKI, Shlomo Shitrit
  • Patent number: 7900451
    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 circulated from at least the inlet of said vaporizer to the outlet of said heat exchanger means; and a line for transmitting regasified LNG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Ormat Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Nadav Amir, Lucien Y. Bronicki, Uri Kaplan, Marat Klochko
  • Publication number: 20110041502
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: Ormat Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ohad ZIMRON, Lucien Y. Bronicki
  • Patent number: 7891188
    Abstract: The present inventive subject matter is drawn to an apparatus for producing power using geothermal liquid comprising: a geothermal power plant for producing power using heat contained in geothermal liquid supplied thereto; and heating means apparatus for heating a solution and producing a heated solution for use in an electrolysis unit with heat from heat depleted geothermal liquid exiting a vaporizer of the geothermal power plant, wherein the electrolysis unit produces hydrogen for use in producing power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Ormat Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Oron David Zachar
  • Publication number: 20110011052
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: Ormat Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Lucien Y. Bronicki
  • Publication number: 20100313565
    Abstract: The present invention provides a waste heat recovery system, comprising: an internal combustion engine for supplying a high grade waste heat thermal resource fluid and a low grade waste heat thermal resource fluid; an intermediate thermal cycle by which an intermediate fluid is vaporized by means of the high grade waste heat thermal resource fluid and is expanded within a first turbine, whereby produce is produced; and an organic thermal cycle by which an organic motive fluid is preheated by means of the low grade waste heat thermal resource fluid and is vaporized by means of the discharge of the intermediate fluid from the first turbine, said vaporized organic motive fluid being expanded in a second turbine, whereby power is produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: Ormat Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Uri KAPLAN, Joseph SINAI
  • Patent number: 7823386
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved, commercially available organic working fluid, which is operable under a broad range of temperatures, is thermally stable, has a high auto-ignition temperature, low freezing point and high critical temperature and is benign to the environment, and safe for human use. Such an organic working fluid is useful in organic Rankine cycle (ORC) power plants or units and other systems of the like as an intermediate fluid for heat-recovery wherein heat from various heat sources is transferred using the intermediate fluid to a further working fluid and converted into work, and the intermediate fluid is also exploited to produce electricity. Such organic working fluids are also operable as heat transfer fluids either in ORC power plants or units or in other heat transfer systems. For this purpose the present invention presents a working fluid comprising at least one highly branched, heavy iso-paraffin hydrocarbons, or a mixture of two or more of such hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Ormat Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ohad Zimron, Lucien Y. Bronicki
  • Publication number: 20100242474
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: Ormat Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Dov BERGER, Joseph Sinai, Lucien Y. Bronicki
  • Patent number: 7797940
    Abstract: The present invention provides a power plant system for producing power using a source of steam, comprising: a vaporizer into which steam from a source of steam is supplied, for vaporizing organic working fluid flowing through the vaporizer; at least one turbine wherein one of the turbines is an organic vapor turbine to which the vaporized working fluid is supplied and which is suitable for generating electricity and producing expanded organic vapor; a recuperator for heating organic vapor condensate flowing towards the vaporizer the expanded organic vapor exhausted from the organic vapor turbine; and two or more stages of preheating means for additionally heating organic working fluid exiting the recuperator and flowing towards the vaporizer, wherein fluid extracted from one of the turbines is delivered to one of the stages of preheating means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Ormat Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Uri Kaplan
  • Patent number: 7775045
    Abstract: The present invention provides a power plant system for producing power using a source of steam, comprising a vaporizer into which steam from a source of steam is supplied, for vaporizing organic working fluid flowing through the vaporizer; at least one turbine wherein one of the turbines is an organic vapor turbine to which the vaporized working fluid is supplied and which is suitable for generating electricity and producing; expanded organic vapor; a recuperator for heating organic vapor condensate flowing towards the vaporizer the expanded organic vapor exhausted from the organic vapor turbine and two or more stages of preheating means for additionally heating organic working fluid exiting the recuperator and flowing towards the vaporizer, wherein fluid extracted from one of the turbine is delivered to one of the stages of preheating means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Ormat Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Uri Kaplan, Zvi Krieger
  • Publication number: 20100071368
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: ORMAT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Uri Kaplan, Joseph Sinai, Lucien Bronicki