Abstract: A Rankine cycle power plant includes a pair of multistage turbine modules each of which has an input for receiving vaporized working fluid and an output shaft, and each of which is responsive to vaporized working fluid applied to its input for expanding the working fluid and producing work at the output shaft and heat depleted working fluid that is superheated. An electrical generator is located between the modules and directly coupled to their output shafts. Superheated, heat depleted working fluid from one of the modules is supplied to the input of the other of the modules.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing from a source of geothermal fluid that contains a mixture of high pressure steam, brine and noncondensable gases includes a heat exchanger for receiving geothermal fluid and transferring heat to water thereby vaporizing the same to produce steam. At least one power plant module is involved, the module having a steam turbine responsive to steam produced by the heat exchanger for producing work, a steam condenser containing an organic fluid and responsive to low pressure steam that exits the steam turbine for condensing the steam into a liquid and vaporizing the organic fluid. The module also contains an organic vapor turbine responsive to vaporizer organic fluid for producing work, and an organic vapor condenser responsive to the low pressure organic fluid that exits the organic vapor turbine condensing the organic vapor to a liquid that is returned to the steam condenser. The cooled geothermal fluid leaving the primary heat exchanger is conducted to a rejection well.

Abstract: A portion of solid fuel is pyrolyzed in a pyrolyzer to produce combustible gases and carbonaceous material, the carbonaceous material being supplied from the pyrolyzer to a furnace. A further portion of the solid fuel is added to a furnace and is combusted with the carbonaceous material therein to produce combustion products that include hot flue gases and ash particulate. The combustion products are separated into a plurality of streams, one of which contains coarse ash and another of which contains flue gases and fine ash. A portion of the coarse ash is directed into the pyrolyzer while a further portion is disposed of, preferably by being used to heat air entering the furnace.

Abstract: A power plant operating on steam for producing electric power including a plurality of integrated power plant unit modules each having a steam turbine responsive to the steam and producing heat depleted steam, a steam condenser associated with the steam turbine operating at a pressure no less than atmospheric pressure for collecting non-condensable gases and condensing the heat depleted steam and vaporizing organic fluid applied to the condenser, a closed organic Rankine cycle turbine operating on the organic fluid and a single electric generator driven by the steam turbine and the organic Rankine cycle turbine for producing electric power, and also including means for supplying in parallel the steam to each steam turbine in each of the modules. A method for producing electric power using steam is also described.

Abstract: Weather in the vicinity of a land mass such as a continental arid zone near, and usually eastward of a body of water is modified by preferably propelling a ship pulling a submerged body having plurality of vertically displaced foils having an angle of attack that effects an upward displacement to the water in response to the surface displacement of the ship. The upward displacement of the water moves cooler sub-surface water toward the surface thereby cooling the surface water and reducing its heat loss in the summer. As a result, the heat capacity of the water is increased and additional heat will be stored in the water as a consequence of the greater absorption of solar radiation thereby increasing winter storms and the amount of rainfall over the land mass during the winter.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of and apparatus for controlling the operation of a valve that regulates the flow of geothermal fluid that comprises geothermal brine and steam flowing through the valve to a geothermal plant. The method includes determining the maximum permitted value of at least one parameter or quantity affecting the operation of the geothermal plant, and setting a predetermined value for the at least one quantity which is less than the maximum value of the quantity. The flow of fluid through the valve is reduced when the value of said at least one quantity reaches its preset value for maintaining the operation of the geothermal plant.

Abstract: A method for producing power comprises compressing gas from an ambient source during a first period of time; storing the compressed gas in a storage reservoir; and supplying said compressed gas from the storage reservoir to a gas turbine during a second period of time to produce electric power. The first period of time may coincide with periods of off-peak demand for electricity, such as at night. In such case, the said second period of time is during the day. The compressed gas supplied to the gas turbine may be heated in a combustion chamber wherein fuel is burned, and/or a solar collector. The solar collector may comprise a receiver positioned at the top of a tower for receiving the compressed gas, and tracking reflectors for focusing solar on said receiver and heating the gas therein. The solar radiation receiver may comprise a rotatable ceramic member for transferring heat from solar radiation to the gas.

Abstract: A geothermal well is operated by continuously pumping spent geothermal fluid into the well and continuously adding concentrated acid to the spent geothermal fluid, such that the concentration of acid in the fluid is in the range of 0.1% to 5%, and occasionally to 10%. Over a period of time, the spend geothermal fluid flowing through the geological formations of the geothermal field carries the dilute acid into the formations for dissolving rock and increasing the permeability thereof. If it is desired to decrease the permeability of the formations, components of drilling mud or other suitable material, are continuously added to the spent geothermal fluid.

Abstract: Turbulence in a wall-bounded fluid flow field having a turbulent wall region characterized by a system of roll pairs extending in the direction of flow, and propagating structures interacting with the system of roll pairs, is controlled by introducing into the turbulent flow, a disturbance that changes the character of the propagating structures directed at an inclined angle to the direction of flow. Where the disturbance increases the amplitudes of the propagating structure, turbulent mixing or heating is increased; and when the disturbance decreases the amplitude of the propagating structure, the turbulent drag is decreased.

Abstract: In order to augment the power produced by a gas turbine system of a type having an air compressor for producing compressed air, a combustor for heating the compressed air, and a gas turbine responsive to the heated air for driving the air compressor and the load, cooling air is supplied to the compressor by indirectly contacting the air with water that is chilled by flashing some of the water into a vapor.

Abstract: Air is conditioned by compressing air at a first location during a first interval of time and storing the compressed air at the first location. Compressed air stored at the first location is transported by pipeline to a second location remote from the first location during a second interval of time different from the first interval of time and expanded at the second location. The expanded air is delivered to enclosures at the second location. The first interval of time is preferably during the night when the power required to compress the air is relatively inexpensive.

Abstract: Spent geothermal fluid from a geothermal power plant comprises geothermal vapor in the form of steam and non-condensable gases, and geothermal liquid in the form of mineral-rich brines. A silencer, which receives the spent geothermal fluid, includes a chamber for receiving the spent fluid and which has a lower outlet from which the brine flows. The chamber has an upper outlet through which the geothermal vapor flows. A heat exchanger is connected to the upper outlet, the heat exchanger having a first portion for receiving the geothermal vapor and the second portion containing a working fluid that is vaporized by the heat contained in the geothermal vapor. As a result, the cooled geothermal vapor produces a low pH condensate and non-condensable gases in the first portion. The brines exiting the silencer through the lower outlet are combined with the low pH condensate and with the non-condensable gases to form waste fluid which may be disposed of by injection into a reinjection well.

Abstract: An existing geothermal power plant, utilizing geothermal steam from a production well in a geothermal field to drive a multi-stage steam turbine when the available steam pressure from the production well for rated mass for steam through the turbine is less than the design pressure of the turbine, is retrofitted by increasing the mass flow of steam from the production well by an incremental amount. Substantially all of the incremental amount of steam is diverted to an organic fluid Rankine cycle power plant for converting heat in the diverted steam to power and producing waste fluid in the form of steam condensate and non-condensable gases. The waste fluid is injected into a reinjection well in the geothermal field. Preferably, the non-diverted portion of steam is applied to the steam turbine and an intermediate stage of the turbine where the design pressure of the stage matches the steam pressure of the applied steam.

Abstract: An intermitently operable non-fuel-consuming power generator, such as a photovoltaic array or a wind generator, is connected through a control circuit to a battery for charging the same and supplying current to a time-wise substantially constant electrical load. An electrical generator, connected to an intermitently operable prime mover, charges the battery and supplies current to the electrical load when the prime mover is operated. A sensor circuit senses at least one electrical parameter, such as a failure of the power generator to produce current, for controlling the operation of the primer mover (i.e., starting of the prime mover). The sensor circuit also senses a second electrical parameter, such as the charge level of the battery. The prime mover is made operational only if the battery capacity is less than a predetermined threshold level when the power generator fails to produce current.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of and apparatus for producing power from solar energy wherein a solar collector heats gas supplied to a gas turbine; compressors compress the gas, the gas being compressed and stored gas during a first period of time, with the stored compressed gas being supplied to the gas turbine during a second period of time to produce power by driving an electric generator. Preferably, the first period of time is during periods of off-peak electricity, which normally occur at night. The second period of time is during the day. The solar collector preferably comprises tracking reflectors for focusing solar radiation and a receiver for receiving the focused solar radiation and also heating the gas. The solar radiation receiver preferably comprises a rotating ceramic member.

Abstract: The pressure of fluid supplied by a high-pressure line is reduced to a lower pressure suitable for a low-pressure utilization device located in an environment having an electrical grid by interposing a fluid motor between the high-pressure line and the low-pressure utilization device such that operation of the latter causes the high-pressure fluid to operate the motor and to exhaust into the utilization device. The fluid motor drives an asynchronous generator whose output is connected to the electrical grid through a switch whose state is normally open. The switch is maintained in a closed state only during operation of the motor by providing, for example, a pressure sensor in the exhaust of the motor for sensing the passage of fluid through the motor.

Abstract: A hybrid power system comprises a first energy converter operating on a closed Rankine cycle and including a vapor generator for vaporizing an organic working fluid in response to heat furnished from a heat source associated with a vapor generator, a turbo-generator responsive to vaporized working fluid for generating electrical power, and a condenser responsive to vapor exhausted from the turbo-generator for converting said vapor to a condensed liquid which is returned to the vapor generator. The system also includes a second energy converter including a thermo-electric generator having a junction, a heat source for heating said junction whereby said thermo-electric generator generates electrical power, and a heat pipe for conveying heat from said last mentioned heat source to the vapor generator of the first energy converter and to the junction.

Abstract: In a power plant which furnishes low-grade heat to a Rankin cycle turbo generator operating with an organic fluid, a fast-starting prime mover is selectively coupled to the generator, the generator capacity of the generator is oversized relative to the individual capacities of the turbine in the prime mover.

Abstract: Water in a solar pond power plant is chlorinated in order to help maintain the transparency of the wind-mixed layer, to suppress microbial activity at all levels of the pond, and to reduce fouling of the boiler which receives hot brine from the heat storage layer of the pond. In one aspect of the invention, chlorine is injected into the water in the wind-mixed layer, in the halocline, and/or in the heat storage layer. Injection into the wind-mixed layer and into the heat storage layer is possible by reason of the flow of this water outside the pond to supply the boiler and condenser of the power plant, thus providing accessibility to liquid chlorine treatment. The halocline is chlorinated by using vertically adjustable intake and discharge diffusers positioned in the halocline and exchanging the water in a stratum. In a second aspect of the invention, in-situ electrolysis is utilized for selectively chlorinating the pond at various levels or locations.

Abstract: An intermittently operable non-fuel-consuming power generator, such as a photovoltaic array or a wind generator, is connected through a control circuit to a battery for for charging the same and supplying current to a time-wise substantially constant electrical load. An electrical generator, connected to an intermittently operable prime mover, charges the battery and supplies current to the electrical load when the prime mover is operated. A sensor circuit senses at least one electrical parameter, such as a failure of the power generator to produce current, for controlling the operation of the prime mover (i.e., starting of the prime mover). The sensor circuit also senses a second electrical parameter, such as the charge level of the battery. The prime mover is made operational only if the battery capacity is less than a predetermined threshold level when the power generator fails to produce current.