Abstract: A power plant, especially a nuclear power plant, is positioned within the interior of a double walled dry cooling tower, the cooling tower having its own foundation and encompassing the power plant site. The inner and outer walls of the cooling tower are adapted to form a relatively small ring zone as compared to the basis area of the power plant, said ring zone having a cooling air entrance at the lower end of the outer wall and an exit at its upper end. Within the ring zone, at its lower end, there are arranged cooling elements of heat exchangers, being exposed to the upwardly flowing cooling air stream. Through this arrangement the break in of cool winds or cool air, otherwise flowing reversely to the cooling air stream, from the exterior via the exit, is prevented.

Abstract: A fuel converter for a transportation vehicle includes a fuel container for a hydrocarbon fuel, an auxiliary container for water or for an inert fluid which is substantially transparent to radiant energy, an electrical power source, and a high temperature fluid-wall reactor.The high temperature fluid-wall reactor has at least one input for the hydrocarbon fuel and for water or the inert fluid, an electrical power input, and an output. Means are provided for metering the hydrocarbon fuel, water or the inert fluid, and electrical power into the appropriate inputs of the reactor. A manifold connects the output of the reactor to a combustion fuel input of the engine of the vehicle. By means of the fuel converter, a variety of low grade and inexpensive hydrocarbon fuels may be converted into combustible mixtures such as carbon black and hydrogen or carbon monoxide and hydrogen which are suitable as fuel for an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A combined cycle electric power plant includes gas and steam turbines and steam generators and a digital/analog control system. In the control system, an automatic digital computer control generates position setpoints for the gas turbine fuel valves and the steam turbine inlet valves to control turbine speed and load. A synchronizer system includes an automatic synchronizer subsystem and a manual synchronizer subsystem. The automatic synchronizer subsystem includes a sequencer which is largely embodied in the digital computer and it further includes a synchronizer which is external to the automatic control. The automatic sequencer connects the synchronizer to synchronize the three generators in a sequence which depends on the startup and loading operation of the turbines, the synchronization operation of the synchronizer and the operation of the breakers. The manual synchronizer subsystem responds to operator inputs to generate a speed reference for the synchronization of each turbine.

Abstract: A combined cycle electric power plant includes two gas turbines, a steam turbine, and a digital control system with an analog or manual backup. Each of the gas turbines has an exhaust heat recovery steam generator connected to a common header from which the steam is supplied by one or both of the steam generators for operating the steam turbine. Both the digital and the analog systems provide a digital input to an interface for controlling the steam turbine valves. The analog system is controlled to operate a respective valve by an input to its interface which determines valve position in accordance with its duration. The digital system is controlled to operate a respective valve by an input to the interface in accordance with the repetitive duration of the signal. The analog system input and digital system input is applied to an interface for each valve.

Abstract: A vapor generator vaporizes a motive fluid which is used to drive a multivaned rotary expander. The expander is the prime mover for an electric generator which may be an alternator. Exhausted vapor from the expander (or if the expander is not being operated, vapor from the vapor generator) is passed through a heat exchanger where a fluid, e.g. air or water, is heated. This heated fluid is used for space heating. The expander may also be connected to drive the compressor for an air conditioning system. Alternatively, an electric motor may be employed for this purpose.

Abstract: A hot gas engine uses inexpensive digital solenoid type control valves to govern engine output as a function of the amount of working gas. Electrical control signals are obtained by comparing a generator voltage derived from engine speed with a control voltage to develop a set of control signals including pulse width modulated pulses which are open over a duty cycle which produces the effect of analog solenoid valve control.

Abstract: As a improved way of effecting fast valving of turbines of power system steam-electric generating units for the purpose of improving the stability of power transmission over transmission circuits to which their generators make connection, when stability is threatened by line faults and certain other stability endangering events, the heretofore employed and/or advocated practice of automatically closing intercept valves at fastest available closing speed in response to a fast valving signal, and thereafter automatically fully reopening them in a matter of seconds, is modified by providing to reopen the valves only partially to and thereafter retain them at a preset partially open position.For best results the process of what can be termed sustained partial reopening is so effected as to result in its completion within a fraction of a second following the peak of the first forward swing of the generator rotor.

Abstract: Rotary closed Rankine cycle engine powered electric generating apparatus including a rotary boiler, power fluid expander and means for condensing the exhaust vapor from the expander. The power fluid expander is rotatably driven at a predetermined speed by pressure fluid generated in the boiler and in turn drives an alternator that is hermetically sealed in a casing rotatable with the boiler and condensing means as a unit. The alternator is rotatably mounted in gas bearings and a portion of the power fluid condensed in said condensing means is utilized to cool the alternator and to provide power fluid vapor at a constant low pressure which is supplied to the gas bearings to lubricate said bearings. In the disclosed embodiments a magnetic-harmonic drive between the alternator and the rotary engine rotatably drives the latter at a predetermined speed substantially slower than the speed of the expander and alternator.

Abstract: Instead of supplying all electrical current for residences or similar buildings from a single central station by way of distribution power lines, each building is also provided with its own engine-driven electrical generator the output terminals of which are connected to the power lines. The heat from the engine in each building is used in satisfying the thermal load for that building, for example to heat the building and the domestic hot water, and/or to supply heat for heat-input forms of air conditioners or refrigerators. Thermostatic control is used to turn the engine on and off as needed to perform its heating function. The electrical current generated while the engine is running is used to supply part or all of the electrical load in the building, and any excess is supplied to the distribution power lines. A two-way watt-hour meter registers the net electrical power flow in or out of the building to enable securing of credit for the current delivered to the power lines from each building.

Abstract: Improvements in apparatus for converting one form of energy into another form with the use of an essentially closed, continuous loop passageway containing a plurality of freely movable, unrestrained bodies. Force generated by expansion of a gas is applied to successive bodies in one region of the passageway to propel them around the passageway in one direction. At another point in the passageway, at least a portion of the kinetic energy of the propelled bodies is converted into another form of energy. Each body, before being propelled around the passageway, enters a compressor section where it compresses the gas in the passageway, the compressed gas being bled off through a check valve where energy is added to it before it is used to propel a body around the passageway in the expander section which immediately follows the thrustor section.

Abstract: A system for determining the thermal characteristics of a cooling system and controlling the cooling system in response to the determined thermal characteristics. The flow pattern of a cooling reservoir having a surface exposed to the atmosphere is represented by a plurality of water segments each representing a specified time interval, preferably equal time intervals. A thermal characteristic of the segments is determined at least periodically, preferably in response to the prevailing thermal transfer characteristics at the surfaces of the segments, and the flow pattern of the cooling reservoir is modified to accommodate the required cooling needs of the system and to prevent the discharge of cooling water into natural reservoirs if the thermal characteristics of the cooling water do not permit such discharge because of set standards. A method for at least periodically calculating the temperature of each segment from known and assumed thermal data through a trial iteration process is also disclosed.

Abstract: A heat source heats air which rises in a duct having at least a one hundred meter vertical rise. Cold air enters the bottom of the duct through one or more horizontal passages containing vanes driven by moving air as a power source. The heat source may be a heat exchanger connected to an atomic reactor, a fossil fuel plant, a solar collector, or a geothermal heat supply. The heat exchanger may be located in the duct or in the one or more horizontal passages. In some applications, solar energy may directly heat the duct or a grid therein to cause an air flow.

Abstract: An electrical generating plant comprising a generator which is driven, during on-load periods, by a gas turbine; the gas turbine operates continuously and is powered by a continuous supply of fuel gas from a suitable fuel source and compressed air from an air storage reservoir; the reservoir is recharged periodically from an air compressor driven by the gas turbine during off-load periods only. The air storage reservoir thus serves to store energy supplied by the system during off-load periods and to return that energy to the system during on-load periods, in which the air compressor is inoperative and places no load on the gas turbine.