Abstract: The present invention provides a solar collector apparatus, comprising a horizontally-mounted cylindrical reflector, divided along its length into two reflector segments, each having its own axis of rotation. Preferably, the two reflector segments are produced by dividing the horizontally-mounted cylindrical reflector down its centerline into two equal reflector segments. The two reflectors segments perform novel tracking with different rotation angles about their corresponding axes by use of a trapeze coupling or a mechanism that permits separate tracking. Since the two reflector segments are coupled, preferably only one tracking mechanism (trapezoid or other) is required since the reflector segments preferably have parallel axes. The present invention also provides a stationary preferably flat plate receiver facing downwards, absorbing the solar energy reflected upwards.

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: 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.

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.

Abstract: The present invention provides a power and regasification system based on liquefied natural gas (LNG), comprising a vaporizer by which liquid working fluid is vaporized, said liquid working fluid being LNG or a working fluid liquefied by means of LNG; a turbine for expanding the vaporized working fluid and producing power; heat exchanger means to which expanded working 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 working 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.

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.

Abstract: The present inventive subject matter is drawn to a hybrid ultra reliable power generating system for supplying continuous reliable power at remote locations comprising: a primary power unit producing electric power that is supplied to a load. Also a secondary power unit is included in the form of a closed cycle vapor turbine (CCVT) system that is capable of producing 100% of the electric power that is produced by the primary power unit and which is heated in hot standby by rejected heat of the primary power unit, wherein the vaporizer of the CCVT is maintained during hot standby at a temperature above its nominal operating temperature and the vapor turbine of the CCVT is preferable maintained at idle during hot standby at a rotating speed.

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.

Abstract: A method for producing power from a heat source comprises the steps of: heating an intermediate fluid with heat from the heat source and producing a vaporized intermediate fluid in an intermediate fluid heater/vaporizer. Heat from the vaporized intermediate fluid vaporizes an organic liquid working fluid present in an organic working fluid vaporizer to form a vaporized organic working fluid and intermediate fluid condensate. The vaporized organic working fluid is expanded in an organic vapor turbine for generating power and producing expanded vaporized organic working fluid; the expanded organic vaporized working fluid being condensed to produce an organic fluid condensate with the organic fluid condensate being supplied to the organic fluid vaporizer. According to the present invention, prior to supplying the vaporized intermediate fluid to the organic fluid vaporizer the vaporized intermediate fluid is expanded in an intermediate fluid vapor turbine and power is produced.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for producing power from a heat source comprising a nonane heater/vaporizer, an intermediate fluid vapor turbine mounted on a shaft that receives and expands the vaporized nonane, an organic fluid vaporizer that receives the expanded vaporized nonane for supplying heat to liquid organic working fluid present in said organic fluid vaporizer and vaporizes said liquid organic working fluid with heat from the expanded vaporized nonane to form vaporized organic working fluid and a nonane condensate, a seal of said shaft being cooled using the nonane condensate by cooling and condensing hot pressurized vapor near the seal, and liquid containing such condensed hot pressurized vapor being supplied to a condensate drain vessel, the drained condensate being supplied to a line connected to a cycle pump of the nonane intermediate cycle, and an organic vapor turbine that expands the vaporized organic working fluid.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Abstract: The present invention provides a power and regasification system based on liquefied natural gas (LNG), comprising a vaporizer by which liquid working fluid is vaporized, said liquid working fluid being LNG or a working fluid liquefied by means of LNG; a turbine for expanding the vaporized working fluid and producing power; heat exchanger means to which expanded working 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 working 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.

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.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing pellets from hot heavy hydrocarbon or asphaltene, in accordance with the present invention, includes flow means that supplies the hot heavy hydrocarbon or asphaltene through a conduit to its outlet; and pellet producing medium or means that breaks up the liquid stream of the hot asphaltene flowing out of the outlet of the conduit and produces pellets of asphaltene. Furthermore, the apparatus includes a reservoir or container that collects the pellets of heavy hydrocarbon or asphaltene together with some fluid producing a slurry; and transporting means that transports the slurry to the required location. Preferably, the fluid is liquid water. In addition, the pellet producing medium preferably is liquid water.

Abstract: Uninterruptible power is supplied to a load connected to a power line by connecting the power line to a rotatable member that includes a Rankine cycle turbine coupled to a device that operates as a motor when line power is operative thereby rotating the member at a standby rotational speed so that a predetermined amount of kinetic energy is stored in the rotating member, and that operates as a generator when the line power is inoperative and the member is rotated by the application of vaporized working fluid to the turbine. Working fluid is vaporized and maintained at an operational temperature level only when the line power is inoperative. The working fluid is held at a standby temperature level, preferably greater than the operational temperature level, while the power line is operative whereby the working fluid contains a predetermined amount of stored thermal energy while the power line is operative.

Abstract: A method for producing power from a heat source comprises the steps of: heating an intermediate fluid with heat from the heat source and producing a vaporized intermediate fluid in an intermediate fluid heater/vaporizer. Heat from the vaporized intermediate fluid vaporizes an organic liquid working fluid present in an organic working fluid vaporizer to form a vaporized organic working fluid and intermediate fluid condensate. The vaporized organic working fluid is expanded in an organic vapor turbine for generating power and producing expanded vaporized organic working fluid; the expanded organic vaporized working fluid being condensed to produce an organic fluid condensate with the organic fluid condensate being supplied to the organic fluid vaporizer. According to the present invention, prior to supplying the vaporized intermediate fluid to the organic fluid vaporizer the vaporized intermediate fluid is expanded in an intermediate fluid vapor turbine and power is produced.