Abstract: One embodiment of an improved thermal power cycle comprising a wet motive fluid, pump (21), evaporator (22), expander (23), and condenser (24). Using a wet motive fluid, it can: (i) operate efficiently over a lower range of heat source temperatures than the steam Rankine cycle, (ii) eliminate the need for superheating the fluid in evaporator (22), (iii) allow for complete expansion of the fluid in expander (23), and/or (iv) reduce back-pressure by the fluid on expander (23), thereby providing higher efficiency than the ORC (organic Rankine cycle), Eliminating the regenerator that is used by ORC systems results in a simpler, less costly system. Using direct-contact heat exchange in condenser (24) rather than the indirect-contact heat exchange used by ORC systems results in more efficient condensation of the fluid. Using a pump (21) rather than the power-hungry compressor used by ORC systems further reduces power losses and expenses.

Abstract: In general terms the present invention proposes a device 100 for harvesting renewable energy. The device 100 comprises a wind turbine 140, a channel 160 for directing wind 198 to the wind turbine 140, and a solar receiver 155 positioned on an internal of the channel 160 for receiving sunlight 194 entering the channel 160.

Abstract: A convective power generation device is described based on thermal convection and thermal input energy. The energy generation device operates by heating wax and oil by heat from a solar concentrator or geothermal energy; as the weight of the wax becomes liquid that is lighter than the oil, the liquid wax moves up through a pathway; when the liquid wax reaches the top of the pathway, the cooler wax falls towards collecting cups mounted to a continuous belt and forces the belt downward to rotate the belt; when a collector cup of wax reaches the bottom of belt rotation, the wax falls to a reservoir; and the rotation of the belt drives a gearbox, which drives a generator to produce electric power. The convective power generation device has been shown to have higher energy conversion efficiency than photovoltaics.

Abstract: The present invention is a renewable energy utilization engine power plant comprising; a solar radiant energy collecting system, wherein the solar radiant heat collecting system comprises; a focusing apparatus for collecting solar radiant energy, and a light guide for guiding the solar radiant energy collected by the focusing apparatus to a heating chamber; a biomass processing system, wherein the biomass processing system generates thermal energy from the conversion of biomass material; a combustible fluid processing system, wherein the combustible fluid processing system generates thermal energy from the combustion of the combustible fluid within the heating chamber; and a closed-cycle thermodynamic based engine driven by the collection of the solar radiant energy and thermal energy, wherein the mechanical power generated by the closed-cycle thermodynamic based engine is converted to electrical energy.

Abstract: A method for power generation via a liquid-gas phase transition. The method includes receiving atmospheric air as input to create an enthalpy difference gradient. A regenerative piston engine received atmospheric air. The regenerative piston engine collects heat generated from the enthalpy difference gradient. The regenerative piston engine converts the collected heat to a mechanical form of energy at the regenerative piston engine.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a heater of heat storage agent and a Brayton solar thermal power unit with heat storage. The Brayton solar thermal power unit with heat storage may include: a heat storage agent flow adjusting module, a solar energy collecting module, a heater of heat storage agent, a heat exchange module, a thermal power generating module a heat storage agent transporting module. The heat storage agent flow adjusting module may be connected with the heat storage agent transporting module and the heater. The heater may be connected with the solar power collecting module, and the heat exchange module. The heat exchange module may be connected with the thermal power generating module and the heat storage agent transporting module. The present disclosure can significantly increase maximum power capacity of Brayton solar thermal power unit to megawatt level, improve operation efficiency, and avoid discontinuity and instability of solar power generation.

Abstract: A hot-air engine (10) includes a compressor (12), a heating chamber (14), a rotary displacement type working engine (16) and a drive means (22). The compressor (12) has an inlet (12a) and an outlet (12b). The heating chamber (14) has an inlet (14a), in fluid communication with the outlet (12b) of the compressor (12), and an outlet (14b). The working engine (16) has an inlet (16a), in fluid communication with the outlet (14b) of the heating chamber (14), and an output shaft (16a). The drive means (22) connects the working engine (16) to the compressor (12) such that operation of the working engine (16) causes operation of the compressor (12).

Abstract: The invention provides a plant for production of energy, comprising any type of heat or energy source including but not limited to solar power sources, nuclear reactors, fossil fuel plants, wind power plants, tidal power plants, waste heat power plants and geothermal sources, operatively arranged at an input side of the plant, and heat delivery or energy production means such as turbine-electric generator sets, operatively arranged at a delivery side of the plant.

Abstract: A solar receiver is disposed on a top portion of a tower provided upright on the ground for heating a compressible working fluid by means of heat converted from sunlight collected by heliostats disposed on the ground, to raise the temperature of the compressible working fluid. The solar receiver has modules disposed back-to-back, and each of which includes a casing having a bottom plate to be fixed to the top-portion upper surface of the tower. A heat-transfer-tube unit is accommodated in the casing and includes heat transfer tubes. A sunlight inlet port having a circular shape in front view or an elliptical shape in front view is provided at the center portion of a plate-like member whose lower end is connected to an outer circumferential end of the bottom plate to constitute the casing and that extends obliquely upward from the outer circumferential end.

Abstract: A solar thermal power generation facility is provided with turbine bypass piping (74) which makes some of compressed air from a compressor (10) bypass a turbine (20), a turbine bypass valve (75) which adjusts the flow rate of the compressed air flowing through the turbine bypass piping (74), and a control device (80) which controls the rotational torque of a turbine rotor (21) by opening the turbine bypass valve (75) before a rotor rotational speed reaches a rated rotational speed in a speeding-up process of the rotor rotational speed by a start-up device (60) and adjusting the flow rate of the compressed air that is made to bypass, by the turbine bypass valve (75). The control device (80) instantaneously fully closes the turbine bypass valve (75) at the time of incorporation in which a power generator (50) is connected to an electric power system (S).

Abstract: A method of converting energy into electricity using a gaseous working fluid and an evaporative fluid comprises pressuring the working fluid (20) in a compressor (1), heating the high-pressure working fluid (22) in a recuperator (8) using thermal energy in low-pressure working fluid (34) emerging from a turbine (2), adding energy from an energy source (5, 6) to increase the temperature and enthalpy of the working fluid (32), expanding the working fluid (32) through the turbine (2), using the turbine to generate electricity, and cooling the low-pressure working fluid (34) emerging from the turbine in the recuperator. The method further comprises lowering the temperature and increasing the mass of the high-pressure working fluid (22) after leaving the compressor (1), and/or after leaving the recuperator (8), by introducing the evaporative fluid (48, 49) to produce evaporative cooling.

Abstract: A system and method for capturing waste heat and converting the captured waste heat into mechanical or electrical energy.

Abstract: A multi-stage solar power device includes a light-permeable base plate, a plurality of light-condensing plates, a heat-conducting tube, at least one gas turbine, a gas inlet tube and a gas outlet tube. The light-condensing plates include a plurality of arcs with different length. The light-condensing plates are spaced from each other and arranged under the light-permeable base plate to define a plurality of light-reflecting chambers. The heat-conducting tube has first and second ends and extends through the light-reflecting chambers. At least one gas turbine is disposed in the heat-conducting tube. The gas inlet tube has first and second sections. The first section protrudes from the light-permeable base plate, and the second section extends through the light-permeable base plate. The gas outlet tube has one end protruding from the light-permeable base plate, as well as an other end extending through the light-permeable base plate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a grid-connected power plant, having the following systems which are adjusted in their capacitance to each other: a) a wind power plant, water power plant, solar-thermal system and/or photovoltaic system for the production of electrical energy for operating the systems b) through f); b) a CO2 absorption system for the absorption of atmospheric CO2; c) a CO2 desorption system for the desorption of the CO2 gained in b); d) an electrochemical or solar-thermal H2 synthesis system for the operating system e); e) a synthesis system selected from the group catalytic methanol synthesis, catalytic DME synthesis, catalytic methane synthesis; f) a storage system selected from the group methanol storage system, DME storage system, methane storage system. The invention also relates to the use of such a power plant and methods for the operation of such a power plant.

Abstract: A heat engine system with a rotating wheel assembly. The wheel assembly rotates through an expansion zone and a contraction zone. The expansion zone heated. The contraction zone is not heated and may be actively cooled. Weights are supported by the wheel assembly. Each of the weights are movable from a first position that is a first distance from the wheel's center to a second position that is a farther second distance from that center. A temperature activated piston is coupled to each of the weights. Each of the temperature activated pistons move one of the plurality of weights between its first position and its second position as each temperature activated piston rotates on the wheel assembly through the expansion zone and the contraction zone. The movement of the weights dynamically alters the center of mass for the wheel assembly and causes it to turn.

Abstract: An apparatus for heating a working fluid of a gas turbine-solar power generation system, comprising, sequentially connected, a cold air flow channel, a heat collecting cavity, and a hot air passage. The hot air passage is formed by connecting an inner housing on the front side to a supplemental heating section on the rear side. Also comprised is a burner for heating a primary heating air within the supplemental heating section when having insufficient solar power, and the burner is arranged at the supplemental heating section.

Abstract: A solar power plant in a new split configuration of a solar Brayton cycle or Brayton/Rankine combined cycle which comprises an array of heliostat mounted mirrors, a solar receiver and a high pressure section of a Brayton cycle power plant mounted near a top of a solar tower, a low pressure section of the Brayton Cycle power plant and the electric generator mounted near or at ground level.

Abstract: Solar energy receivers and methods of using the same are provided. The receiver includes a plurality of absorber members configured to absorb concentrated solar radiation. The plurality of absorber members define at least one fluid transport channel. The solar receiver also includes a plurality of structural plates, wherein each of the plurality of structural plates is positioned between adjacent absorber members to define an inner fluid transport passage and a plurality of outer fluid transport passages. The inner fluid transport passage is in flow communication with the plurality of outer fluid transport passages. The plurality of outer fluid transport passages are in thermal communication with the plurality of absorber members.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems for operating a solar steam system in response to a detected or predicted reduced or impending reduced insolation event are disclosed herein. Examples of transient reduced insolation events include but are not limited to cloud-induced reduction in insolation, dust-induced reduction in insolation, and insolation events caused by solar eclipses. In some embodiments, in response to the detecting or predicting, steam flow is regulated within the solar steam system to reduce a flow rate into a steam turbine. Alternatively or additionally, one or more heliostats may be responsively redirected onto a steam superheater or steam re-heater.

Abstract: A solar air electric plant comprising: air filter 1, throttle (shuttle) 2 through which a stream of ambient air enters into a volume action air compressor 3 connected via coupling 4 to a volume action pneumatic motor 5. Produced by compressor 3, the compressed air is transferred through regenerator 8 to solar heater 9 and therefrom in parallel to pneumatic motor 5, which rotates compressor 3, and to pneumatic motor 6 which rotates the current alternator 7 and therefrom via said regenerator 8 may be discharged to the atmosphere.

Abstract: A solar receiver having a radiation capturing element for capturing solar radiation passing through a radiation receiving aperture into a cavity formed by the radiation capturing element, the aperture having a first diameter and the cavity having cylindrical walls of a second diameter, the second diameter being larger than the first diameter, preferably about twice as large. Furthermore, the length of the cavity is greater than the first diameter, preferably about twice as great.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus including a compressed air energy storage (CAES) system including a compression train with a compressor path, a storage volume configured to store compressed air, a compressed air path configured to provide passage of compressed air egressing from the compression train to the storage volume, and a heat recovery system coupled to at least one of the compressor path and the compressed air path and configured to draw heat from at least one of the compressor path and the compressed air path to a first liquid. The compression train is configured to provide passage of compressed air from a first compressor to a second compressor. The heat recovery system includes a first evaporator configured to evaporate the first liquid to a first gas and a first generator configured to produce electricity based on an expansion of the first gas.

Abstract: A solar receiver (100), for capturing solar radiation, comprising a radiation capturing element (3) and a channel (8) around that element, through which channel (8) a pressurised working fluid is passed to absorb thermal energy from the radiation capturing element.

Abstract: A floating type solar energy collection/power device includes a base having a compartment receiving a working fluid. A heat collecting assembly is mounted to an opening of the compartment to seal the compartment. A heat conducting assembly is mounted in the compartment and includes a heat conducting tube and a pump. The heat conducting tube includes a first end in communication with the compartment and a second end connected to the pump. The pump draws the first working fluid into the second end of the heat conducting tube via an inlet of the pump. A heat machine includes a compressor, a heat exchanger, and a turbine. The compressor, the heat exchanger, and the turbine are connected to each other by a plurality of pipes. The turbine is connected to a generator. The heat exchanger and the working fluid undergo heat exchange.

Abstract: A solar receiver (100) having a radiation capturing element (3) about which is formed a channel (8) through which a working fluid flows such that thermal energy of the radiation capturing element (8) is absorbed by the working fluid, the channel (8) being shaped to provide a uniform cross sectional area along a length thereof between an inlet thereto and an outlet therefrom.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an integrated power generating system and method that combines combustion power generation with solar heating. Specifically, a closed cycle combustion system utilizing a carbon dioxide working fluid can be increased in efficiency by passing at least a portion of a carbon dioxide working fluid through a solar heater prior to passage through a combustor.

Abstract: An eco-friendly linear solar heat generating system may employ a linear engine with a simple structure using solar heat is employed in place of a conventional Stirling engine with a complicated structure. Magnets and a coil are arranged in a piston and a cylinder, respectively, to thereby generate power in a highly efficient matter, improve installation stability, and enable easy maintenance and repair.

Abstract: An energy converter, includes a base, a first and a second converging lenses, an electric coil and a movable module. The base includes a substrate, a transparent chamber and two supporters formed on the substrate. The transparent chamber includes a first and a second vents formed therein. The first and second converging lenses are supported by the respective supporters. The electric coil is fixed on the substrate, and the electric coil defines a receiving space therein. The movable module includes a piston, a connector connected to the piston, a magnet connected to the connector, and a shading plate disposed on the connector and having an opening defined therein. The piston is moved in the transparent chamber due to thermal expansion of air in the transparent chamber, thereby moving the magnet in or out of the receiving space of the electric coil, and thus the electric power is generated.

Abstract: Methods and systems for aiming heliostats toward a receiver. One of the methods includes directing a first subset of a set of heliostats to reflect solar rays toward a first location within an aperture of a receiver and directing a second subset of the set of heliostats to reflect solar rays toward one or more second locations within the aperture of the receiver. The solar rays reflected toward the first location provide solar heat to at least a first flow path of a working fluid in an engine assembly coupled to the receiver. The solar rays reflected toward the one or more second locations provide solar heat to a second flow path of the working fluid. The first and second flow paths correspond to heating at first and second stages respectively within the engine assembly, which is configured to generate power from the solar rays reflected to the receiver.

Abstract: A heat engine using solar energy is disclosed. The heat engine in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes a first body, a second body and a solar concentrator, and can have highly efficient thermal cycles by allowing a first piston assembly and a second piston assembly to reciprocate opposite directions with respect to each other inside a first cylinder and a second cylinder, respectively, as first operating gas and fourth operating gas or second operating gas and third operating gas thermally expand alternately.

Abstract: The present application thus describes a solar-thermal power generation plant that includes one or more towers; a plurality of heliostats disposed around each of the one or more towers; a direct solar evaporator mounted at an elevated position on each of the one or more towers, the heliostats being configured to reflect solar radiation toward the direct solar evaporator such that concentrated solar radiation heats a receiving surface on the direct solar evaporator; and a heat engine mounted at an elevated position on each of the one or more towers, attached to the direct solar evaporator, and configured to use the heat from the receiving surface on the direct solar evaporator to generate electricity.

Abstract: A novel cost effective low profile structure that converts and stores solar radiation into heat and electricity for controlled utilization. The inventive material incorporates a large insulated vault or chamber of substantial thermal mass connected to a series of inlet passages and to a solar collector assembly. As solar radiation is collected by the solar collector assembly a temperature gradient is created between the collector and the air that is within the vault resulting in air being drawn out of the chamber and through the collector assembly. This air movement is utilized to rotate turbines that are coupled to the inlet passages generating electricity. The hot air is also captured and utilized. The system provides for an efficient, economical process of harnessing and utilizing solar energy by capitalizing on not only on its thermal nature, but its motive nature as well.

Abstract: A Stirling engine solar concentrator system including a primary reflector (10) mounted on a base supporting structure (1), a secondary reflector (14) located at a focus of the primary reflector (10). a receiver (18) located at a focus of the secondary reflector (14), wherein sunrays are reflected from the primary reflector (10) to the secondary reflector (14) and are reflected back from the secondary reflector (14) to the receiver (18), and a Stirling engine (5) located near the receiver (18), characterised by a cooling system of the Stirling engine (5) including a plurality of heat transfer elements (6, 8) mounted on a shaded side of the primary reflector (10), wherein a cooling fluid (19) is arranged to flow between the Stirling engine (5) and the heat transfer elements (6, 8).

Abstract: A solar receiver is disposed on a top portion of a tower provided upright on the ground for heating a compressible working fluid by means of heat converted from sunlight collected by heliostats disposed on the ground, to raise the temperature of the compressible working fluid. The solar receiver has modules disposed back-to-back, and each of which includes a casing having a bottom plate to be fixed to the top-portion upper surface of the tower. A heat-transfer-tube unit is accommodated in the casing and includes heat transfer tubes. A sunlight inlet port having a circular shape in front view or an elliptical shape in front view is provided at the center portion of a plate-like member whose lower end is connected to an outer circumferential end of the bottom plate to constitute the casing and that extends obliquely upward from the outer circumferential end.

Abstract: Heated air rises in a long, diagonal chimney up the side of a mountain. The airflow in the chimney turns wind turbines. Air entering the chimney's feeder tubes is heated in stages, where each stage has its own solar concentration and thermal insulation needs. Water, water vapor and air can be preheated as they are shipped to a chimney's lower end. Both low heat for preheating and high heat can be stored for night electricity generation and for continuing the chimney's electric production during cloudy periods. A pressurized chimney or tube may be built with cables pulling the sides outward or holding the sides inward as needed, with separate air fairing and weather protection layers for the chimney or tube. Putting wind turbines in series in a chimney can lessen the air pressure stresses on the chimney's roof. Water vapor rising a considerable elevation in a diagonal chimney will condense, giving up latent heat to the chimney air as it produces distilled water or mountaintop snow.

Abstract: Various systems and methods are provided for power generation using buoyancy-induced vortices. In one embodiment, among others, a vortex generation system includes a nucleating obstruction; an array of vanes distributed about the nucleating obstruction, the array of vanes configured to impart an angular momentum on air drawn through the array of vanes to form a columnar vortex over the nucleating obstruction; and a set of turbine blades positioned over the nucleating obstruction, the set of turbine blades configured to extract power from the columnar vortex. In another embodiment, a method for power extraction from a buoyancy-induced vortex includes establishing a thermal plume; imparting angular momentum to boundary layer air entrained by the thermal plume to form a stationary columnar vortex; and extracting power from the stationary columnar vortex through turbine blades positioned within the stationary columnar vortex.

Abstract: The present invention describes a novel integration between wind and solar thermal renewable energy technologies. An existing wind turbine consisting of a hub and blades is operated by the power generated from a waterless solar thermal system (using high pressure, high temperature air) during periods of low wind availability. The solar thermal system consist of a heliostat field, solar air receiver panels, a thermal energy storage tank and a Pelton wheel assembly system for converting thermal energy of air into kinetic energy of the power shaft of the wind turbine. The thermal energy converting system consists of a plurality of supersonic air nozzles acting as stator, producing supersonic air jets to interact with a rotating Pelton wheel. A thermal storage system provides means for energy dispatchability. The proposed integrated system is capable of generating a stable renewable energy with minimum intermittency.

Abstract: The integrated solar-gas turbine cogeneration plant includes a fuel reformer, a plurality of solar collectors, and a gas turbine. The fuel reformer produces syngas to be used as fuel for the gas turbine. One solar collector is operatively connected to both the fuel reformer and the turbine to provide heat for the reforming reaction and to preheat air for a combustion chamber. Exhaust gas from the turbine is directed to the fuel reformer and to a heat recovery steam generator, the former as an additional heat source and the latter to heat the generator. Another solar collector is connected to the generator and heats a portion of the water being fed into the generator in order to help produce steam. The syngas is stored in a to fuel storage unit to provide fuel to the gas turbine continuously and to a supplemental heater on the steam generator during low insolation periods.

Abstract: A method for storing heat from a solar collector CSTC in Concentrating Solar Power plants and delivering the heat to the power plant PP when needed. The method uses a compressed gas such as carbon dioxide or air as a heat transfer medium in the collectors CSTC and transferring the heat by depositing it on a bed of heat-resistant solids and later, recovering the heat by a second circuit of the same compressed gas. The storage system HSS is designed to allow the heat to be recovered at a high efficiency with practically no reduction in temperature. Unlike liquid heat transfer media, our storage method itself can operate at very high temperatures, up to 3000° F., a capability which can lead to greater efficiency.

Abstract: Provided is a concentrated solar power gas turbine that enables efficient operation to allow a reduction in capacity of the start-up driving source used for compensating for the shortage of solar heat quantity at the start-up/acceleration. The concentrated solar power gas turbine (GT1) includes a compressor (1) for taking in air and increasing the pressure thereof, the compressor (1) being provided with a start-up driving source for start-up/acceleration; a solar central receiver (2) for heating the high-pressure air, the pressure of which has been increased by the compressor (1), by the heat of sunlight collected by a heliostat to increase the temperature thereof; and a turbine (3) for converting thermal energy possessed by the high-temperature/high-pressure air to mechanical energy, wherein the fluid flow in the solar central receiver (2) is shut off to store heat in the period from the shutdown of the turbine (3) to the start-up thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for using solar energy to enhance the efficiency of a compressed air energy storage system (and visa-versa). The apparatus comprises a photovoltaic panel to drive a compressor, which provides compressed air energy into an inner vessel housed within a storage tank. Two solar receiving panels are used to heat water which can be circulated and stored within an annulus surrounding the inner vessel, wherein the heated water can help regulate the temperature of the compressed air within the tank. This way, when air is released using a turbo expander, any excess temperature drops that can otherwise result from air expansion can be avoided.

Abstract: A method for storing heat from a solar collector CSTC in Concentrating Solar Power plants and delivering the heat to the power plant PP when needed. The method uses a compressed gas such as carbon dioxide or air as a heat transfer medium in the collectors CSTC and transferring the heat by depositing it on a bed of heat-resistant solids and later, recovering the heat by a second circuit of the same compressed gas. The storage system HSS is designed to allow the heat to be recovered at a high efficiency with practically no reduction in temperature. Unlike liquid heat transfer media, our storage method itself can operate at very high temperatures, up to 3000° F., a capability which can lead to greater efficiency. Due to material constraints and cost considerations in the rest of the system the maximum temperature is presently limited to between 1700° F. and 2000° F. The method can be applied to all current solar collector designs.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and an apparatus for generating power using a synthetic gas/natural gas mixture comprising: a) an expander for expanding a hydrocarbon gas from a pipeline and forming an expanded hydrocarbon gas; b) supply means for supplying said expanded hydrocarbon gas to a medium temperature reformer; a) equipment constructed and arranged to reform said expanded hydrocarbon gas from said pipeline into a synthetic gas/natural gas mixture using solar radiation, said equipment including said medium temperature solar reformer and a steam generator generating steam using heat from the medium temperature reformer; d) further supply means for supplying said synthetic gas/natural gas mixture produced by said equipment to a compressor for compressing said mixture and forming a compressed mixture; and e) a still further supply means for supplying said compressed mixture to said pipeline.

Abstract: The sun imparts 174 petawatt per second on the earth, and a large portion of this energy is absorbed by the earth's atmosphere in the form of translational energy for the gaseous molecules, i.e. continuous random motion in the average speed range of 500 meters per second on earth's surface. This invention utilizes a partition with large number of through-holes which all have the characteristic of providing greater cross section for gas molecules to transit from one side to the other than the reverse, thus creating a higher statistical probability for the molecules to move from one side of the partition to the other side.

Abstract: A concentrating solar receiver that maximizes the amount of solar energy available for conversion to electricity that utilizes a primary reflector, a secondary reflector and a fresnel lens to both reflect and refract solar rays to a thermal cycle engine receiver which converts solar energy to mechanical energy which is in turn converted into electrical energy using an electric generator. The configuration creates focal points that protect the thermal cycle engine receiver from high temperatures and provides uniform density of solar energy within the thermal cycle engine receiver. The solar receiver is moved in response to a sun tracking sensor using a vertical and a horizontal drive motor. The thermal cycle engine and the electric generator, representing the majority of mass, are centered on the vertical support and are low to the ground.

Abstract: A thermodynamic engine is configured to convert heat provided in the form of a temperature difference to a nonheat form of energy. Heat is directed through a heating loop in thermal contact with a first side of the thermodynamic engine. A second side of the thermodynamic engine is coupled to an environmental cooling loop in thermal contact with an environmental cooling device. The thermodynamic engine is operated to dispense heat from the second side of the thermodynamic engine through the environmental cooling loop into the environmental cooling device. Operation of the thermodynamic engine thereby generates the nonheat form of energy from the temperature difference established between the first side and the second side of the thermodynamic engine.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for removing thermal energy from a nuclear reactor, which are fault tolerant. The apparatus includes at least one heat pipe configured to absorb thermal energy produced by the nuclear reactor. In addition, the apparatus includes a first compartment thermally coupled to the at least one heat pipe. The first compartment is configured to contain a first gas. Furthermore, the apparatus includes a second compartment thermally coupled to the at least one heat pipe. The second compartment is configured to contain a second gas and configured to isolate the second gas from the first gas.

Abstract: A power plant and method for the generation of power from flowing air utilizes a generally vertically extending duct having an inlet open to atmosphere at an elevation above an outlet. A spray system is mounted adjacent the inlet for spraying droplets of a predetermined amount of water into the air causing the air and droplet mixture to become cooler and denser than the outside air to create a down draft of fluid within the duct. A power system mounted adjacent the outlet recovers energy from the downdraft of fluid passing through it. The predetermined amount of water sprayed is greater than the amount of water that would theoretically and potentially evaporate in the air throughout the entire elevation over an unlimited time period using fresh water droplets. The power plant can also be synergistically combined with desalination systems and aquaculture.