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: 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 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 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: 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: The method of the invention comprises enhancing the flow of geothermal fluid (water and/or steam and/or mixtures thereof) from at least one injection well to at least one production well, by the following steps: providing a first, horizontal, geothermal well, which is used as said injection well; injecting water into said injection well; providing a second, horizontal, geothermal well, which issued as said production well such that said second, horizontal, production, geothermal well is substantially horizontally and vertically spaced from said first, horizontal, injection, geothermal well and located at a shallower depth than said first, horizontal, injection, geothermal well; recovering geothermal fluid from said production well; and generating a water density difference and a pressure difference between said first horizontal, injection well and said second horizontal, production well.

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 cooling of a hot fluid is effected using a heat exchanger adapted to receive the hot fluid and liquid coolant for cooling the hot fluid such that the liquid coolant is vaporized. A turbine, having an output shaft connected to a fan, is responsive to vaporized coolant which expands in the turbine for driving the fan to move a mass of air, and produce vaporized coolant. A condenser receives the expanded vaporized coolant and is responsive to air blown by the fan, for condensing the expanded vaporized coolant thereby cooling the same and producing coolant condensate which is then returned to the heat exchanger.

Abstract: Electricity is generated in an arid environment using an open duct such as a canyon that is closed at one end and open at the other by erecting an air dam at the open end of the canyon and locating an air turbogenerator in the base of the dam. The air in the canyon is cooled by spraying water into the air as it enters the canyon, the cooled air flowing downwardly toward the base of the dam and through the turbogenerator.Preferably, the air dam is a flexible curtain, covering the outlet of the canyon, and suspension means are provided for suspending the flexible curtain at its top. The suspension means include supports built into the canyon above the top of the curtain, the support preferably being a suspension cable suspended between towers on opposite sides of the canyon such that the top of the flexible curtain is supported by support cables carried by the suspension cable.

Abstract: An energy-saving, direct-contact parallel-flow heat exchanger includes a vertically oriented tower open at the top and bottom for defining a gas-flow conduit. A spray-head adjacent to the top of the tower sprays droplets of relatively warm brine into the air which flows downwardly in response to drag forces being exerted by the falling droplets and is compressed as a heat-exchange process takes place between the air and the droplets. The cooled droplets that fall to the bottom of the tower are collected and separated from the air. An air turbine associated with the tower produces energy in response to the downward flow of air in the tower.

Abstract: The condensate of a closed cycle power plant that uses an organic working fluid for lubricating the bearings of the turbine is cooled to a temperature below the condenser temperature by an auxiliary cooler before being supplied to the bearings. This subcooling of the lubricating liquid increases its viscosity to a value which causes the minimum thickness of the lubricating film in the bearings to be increased significantly. By increasing the minimum film thickness, the filtering demands on the lubricating condensate are reduced and the surface finish of the journals and bearings is less critical permitting the journals and bearing to be finished by standard precision grinding techniques. In a specific embodiment of the invention, a cannister housing the turbine/generator is provided with a sump for collecting liquid working fluid which is delivered to the bearings through a cooler.

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.