Abstract: The invention is a system for heating hydrocarbon flows with three heat exchangers, wherein the first heat exchanger transfers heat from compressed heated air to a pressurized heat exchange fluid; wherein the second heat exchanger transfers heat from the pressurized heat exchange fluid to a hydrocarbon flow and increases the hydrocarbon flow temperature between 50% and 900%; wherein the third heat exchanger receives the pressurized heat exchange fluid from the first heat exchanger and cools the fluid using at least one fan located in the third heat exchanger; and the system also has a vessel to accommodate thermal expansion of the pressurized heat exchange fluid and at least one pump for transporting fluid through the system.

Abstract: The invention is a method for operating a heat exchanger in a power plant by pumping a heat exchange fluid around a set of tubes in the first heat exchanger; increasing the heat exchange fluid temperature and cooling the compressed heated air; splitting heated fluid flow into a second and third heat exchanger and a vessel; injecting a hydrocarbon flow into the set of tubes in the second heat exchanger; flowing the heated fluid into the second heat exchanger transferring heat from the heated heat exchange fluid to the hydrocarbon flow whose temperature increases between 90% and 500%; flowing the cooled heat exchange fluid to the vessel; flowing the heated fluid from the first heat exchanger to a third heat exchanger and cooling the excess heated heat exchange fluid; and using the vessel to accommodate thermal expansion of the fluid.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a method for retrofitting a power plant that reduces the consumption of fossil fuel using compressed heated air by retrofitting the power plant by adding at least three heat exchangers, a vessel, a pump, and a control system to the power plant, wherein the first heat exchanger receives compressed heated air from a power source and produces heated heat exchange fluid and a second heat exchanger heats a hydrocarbon flow that drives a turbine coupled to a generator in the power plant, wherein the generator produces power and exhaust gases, wherein the method entails pumping a heat exchange fluid through a first heat exchanger; exchanging heat with compressed heated air; splitting heated fluid flow into a second heat exchanger and a vessel; flowing the heated fluid through a second heat exchanger exchanging heat with a hydrocarbon flow; flowing the heated fluid from the vessel to a third heat exchanger; and using the vessel to accommodate fluid thermal expansion.

Abstract: The invention is a method for retrofitting a power plant that reduces the consumption of fossil fuel using compressed heated air by retrofitting the power plant by adding at least three heat exchangers, a vessel, a pump, and control system to the power plant, wherein the first heat exchanger receives compressed heated air from a power source and produces heated heat exchange fluid, a second heat exchanger heats a hydrocarbon flow that drives a turbine coupled to a generator, wherein the generator produces power and exhaust gases, wherein the method entails pumping a heat exchange fluid through a first heat exchanger; exchanging heat with compressed heated air; splitting heated fluid flow into a second and third heat exchanger; flowing the heated fluid through a second heat exchanger exchanging heat with a hydrocarbon flow; flowing the heated fluid from the first to third heat exchanger; and using the vessel to accommodate fluid thermal expansion.