Abstract: A system includes a flow-through electric generator and an electrolytic cell. The flow-through electric generator includes a turbine wheel, a rotor, and a stator. The turbine wheel is configured to receive natural gas from a natural gas pipeline and rotate in response to expansion of the natural gas flowing into an inlet of the turbine wheel and out of an outlet of the turbine wheel. The rotor is coupled to the turbine wheel and configured to rotate with the turbine wheel. The flow-through electric generator is configured to generate electrical power upon rotation of the rotor within the stator. The electrolytic cell is configured to receive a water stream and the electrical power from the flow-through electric generator. The electrolytic cell is configured to perform electrolysis on the water stream using the received electrical power to produce a hydrogen stream and an oxygen stream.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an electric generator that includes a fluid inlet configured to receive hydrogen at a first pressure, a turbine wheel configured to expand the hydrogen and rotate in response to expansion of the hydrogen flowing into an inlet of the turbine wheel and out of the outlet of the turbine wheel, a rotor coupled to the turbine wheel and configured to rotate with the turbine wheel, a stationary stator, the electric generator to generate an alternating current upon rotation of the rotor within the stator, and a fluid outlet configured to output hydrogen at a second pressure less than the first pressure. The apparatus includes a power electronics system electrically connected to an electrical output of the electric generator and to receive alternating current from the electric generator. The power electronics can condition the generated electrical current to supply power to various types of loads.

Abstract: An energy recovery system for generating electric power from flow out of a gas well includes a first flow path from a well to a pipeline comprising a turbine wheel coupled to a generator and a second flow path from the well to the pipeline. The second flow path is apart from the first flow path, and includes a valve. The first and second flow paths reside on a production site of the well.

Abstract: A turboexpander can operate as a microgrid electric generator for islanding operations. The turboexpander can recover energy lost during a pressure letdown sequence to generate electricity. Pressurized process gas can cause a turbine to rotate, thereby rotating a rotor within a stator of the turboexpander. A power electronics can include an islanding mode inverter to output an alternating current that comprises a frequency and an amplitude compatible with powering a load. The power electronics can include a battery that is charged by the turboexpander and can provide power for starting up the turboexpander. The power electrics can include a bidirectional inverter to send excess power from the turboexpander to a power grid and to receive power from the power grid for start-up.

Abstract: An electric generator includes a process gas inlet on a downstream side of the flow control valve to receive process gas into the electric machine; a rotor shaft including a node position, the node position defining a position of a node of a first bending mode of the rotor shaft; a turbine wheel coupled to the rotor shaft at the node position, the turbine wheel configured to receive process gas and rotate in response to expansion of the process gas flowing into an inlet of the turbine wheel and out of the outlet of the turbine wheel, the rotor shaft configured to rotate with the turbine wheel, and a stationary stator, the electric generator to generate an alternating current upon rotation of the rotor within the stator. The turbine wheel selected from a plurality of turbine wheels based on the operational conditions of the electric generator.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a gas fuel source, a fuel cell stack fluidly connected to the gas fuel source by a first pathway, and a turboexpander generator fluidly connected to the gas fuel source by a bypass fluid pathway in parallel with at least a portion of the first pathway. The first pathway transmits a first amount of gas fuel from the gas fuel source to the fuel cell stack. The turboexpander generator receives a second amount of gas fuel from the gas fuel source and reduces a pressure and temperature of the second amount of the gas fuel. The fuel cell system also includes a motor electrically connected to the fuel cell stack and the turboexpander generator, where the fuel cell stack and the turboexpander generator each supply electrical power to the motor.

Abstract: A first turboexpander generator defines a portion of a first conduit flow passage. The first turboexpander generator is configured to decrease a temperature or pressure of a process stream flowing through the first turboexpander generator by generating electrical power from the process stream. A second turboexpander generator defines a portion of a second conduit flow passage. The second turboexpander generator is configured to decrease a temperature or pressure of a process stream flowing through the second turboexpander generator by generating electrical power from the process stream. The first and second conduit flow passages are arranged to carry fluid flow in parallel to one another. The first and the second turboexpander generator are substantially identical in critical dimensions and performance.

Abstract: A first turboexpander generator is configured to decrease a temperature or pressure of a process stream flowing through the first turboexpander generator by generating electrical power from the process stream. A second turboexpander generator is configured to decrease a temperature or pressure of a process stream flowing through the second turboexpander generator by generating electrical power from the process stream. The second turboexpander generator is downstream of and receives a flow output from the first turboexpander generator. The first turboexpander generator and the second turboexpander generator each include the following features. An electric stator surrounds an electric rotor. An annulus defined by the electric rotor and the electric stator is configured to receive a process fluid flow. Magnetic bearings carry the rotor within the stator. A housing encloses the rotor and stator. The housing is hermetically sealed between an inlet and an outlet of each turboexpander generator.

Abstract: A first turboexpander generator is configured to decrease a temperature or pressure of a process stream flowing through the first turboexpander generator by generating electrical power from the process stream. A second turboexpander generator is configured to decrease a temperature or pressure of a process stream flowing through the second turboexpander generator by generating electrical power from the process stream. The second turboexpander generator is downstream of and receives a flow output from the first turboexpander generator. The first turboexpander generator and the second turboexpander generator each include the following features. An electric stator surrounds an electric rotor. An annulus defined by the electric rotor and the electric stator is configured to receive a process fluid flow. Magnetic bearings carry the rotor within the stator. A housing encloses the rotor and stator. The housing is hermetically sealed between an inlet and an outlet of each turboexpander generator.

Abstract: An electric power generation system receives a gas flow at a heater, heats the gas flow at the heater with a heated fluid from a waste heat process, and directs the heated gas flow to a turbine wheel of an electric generator. The heated gas flow drives rotation of the turbine wheel, and in response to rotating the turbine wheel, electrical current is generated by the electric generator. Generated electrical current is then directed to power electronics.

Abstract: An impeller is configured to be rotated by a flowing fluid. A fluid stator includes a fixed ring parallel to a plane of rotation of the impeller. The fixed ring has a center in-line with a center of rotation of the impeller. A rotatable ring is rotatable relative to, and parallel to, the fixed ring. The rotatable ring has a center in-line with a center of rotation of the impeller. Stator vanes extend between the fixed ring and the rotatable ring. The stator vanes define an inlet cross sectional area upstream of the impeller. The cross sectional area is dependent upon a relative position of the fixed ring and the rotatable ring. An actuator is configured to rotate the rotatable ring. An electric rotor is coupled to, and configured to rotate in unison with, the impeller. An electric stator encircles the electric rotor. The electric stator includes coil windings.