Abstract: A modified two-phase refrigeration cycle compresses a working fluid, condenses the working fluid into a saturated or supercooled liquid, expands the saturated or supercooled liquid into a two-phase fluid, and evaporates the two-phase working fluid. The modified two-phase refrigeration cycle reduces irreversibilities imposed by conventional refrigeration cycles and extracts energy from the working fluid during the expansion process. For instance, a system that employs the modified two-phase refrigeration cycle includes a two-phase expander to reduce irreversibilities during an expansion process and extract energy. In some instances, the system includes a two-phase compressor to compress two-phase fluids for varying loads and environmental conditions of the system.

Abstract: A system including a pump, a boiler coupled to the pump, a turbine coupled to the boiler, a two-phase expander coupled to the turbine, and a condenser coupled to the two-phase expander and the pump.

Abstract: A system including a pump, a boiler coupled to the pump, a turbine coupled to the boiler, a two-phase expander coupled to the turbine, and a condenser coupled to the two-phase expander and the pump.

Abstract: A seal that has a body with at least two arms extending on each side of the body. The body also has a top and a bottom and there can be a stop on either the top, the bottom or both of the body. The arms can be in any suitable configuration, such as “C”, “V”, Omega or any Umega configurations. Among the many possibilities, there can be one or more stops extending on the top and bottom of the body or different numbers of stops on either the top, the bottom or both.