Abstract: A vapor provision system configured to selectively generate differently-flavored vapors for inhalation by a user and to make use of this ability to provide user feedback. The system includes a first vapor precursor material having a first flavor and a second vapor precursor material having a second, different, flavor one or more vaporizers arranged to generate vapor from a selectable ratio of the first and second vapor precursor materials to provide a vapor with a selectable flavor for normal use; and control circuitry configured to determine if a user notification condition arises for the vapor provision system, such as a low battery warning, and in response to determining a user notification condition has arisen, to control the at least one vaporizer to generate a vapor using a modified ratio of the first and second vapor precursor materials to provide a vapor with a different flavor by way of an indication that a user notification condition has arisen.

Abstract: A saturated steam or weakly superheated steam thermodynamic cycle in an electricity generating plant includes at least a nuclear energy source and a turbine having at least a high-pressure module, a medium-pressure module and a low-pressure module. The steam flows successively through the high-pressure, medium-pressure and low-pressure modules. The steam undergoes a first drying and/or superheating cycle between the high-pressure and medium-pressure modules and also a second cycle comprising at least a drying and/or a superheating process between the medium-pressure module and the low-pressure module.

Abstract: The technology combines a secondarily-fueled boiler with a primary-fueled Rankine steam cycle combustion system in a hybrid process. Outputs from a secondarily-fueled combustion system are fed into the feedwater heater(s), deaerators, feedwater heating lines, and/or reheat lines of a primary-fueled Rankine system. The integrated steam flow eliminates or reduces one or more extractions from the steam turbine generator, thereby allowing it to generate more electrical power using the same Rankine system input energy or generate equivalent electrical power using energy inputs from multiple fuel sources. The technology can be utilized in any type and/or configuration of secondary fuel or secondarily-fueled combustion technology and/or can utilize any type of primary-fueled steam source.

Abstract: The technology combines a secondarily-fueled boiler with a primary-fueled Rankine steam cycle combustion system in a hybrid process. Outputs from a secondarily-fueled combustion system are fed into the feedwater heater(s), deaerators, feedwater heating lines, and/or reheat lines of a primary-fueled Rankine system. The integrated steam flow eliminates or reduces one or more extractions from the steam turbine generator, thereby allowing it to generate more electrical power using the same Rankine system input energy or generate equivalent electrical power using energy inputs from multiple fuel sources. The technology can be utilized in any type and/or configuration of secondary fuel or secondarily-fueled combustion technology and/or can utilize any type of primary-fueled steam source.

Abstract: A system is disclosed including a low pressure steam turbine; an air-cooled condenser (ACC) in fluid connection with the low pressure (LP) steam turbine, the ACC for receiving a portion of steam from an exhaust of the LP steam turbine; a feedwater heater in fluid connection with the low pressure steam turbine via a conduit, the feedwater heater for receiving a portion of supply steam from the LP steam turbine; and a condensate pump in fluid connection with the ACC and the feedwater heater, the condensate pump for receiving condensate fluid from the ACC and drain fluid from the feedwater heater.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for increasing the steam mass flow of a high-pressure steam turbine of a steam power plant, particularly a steam power plant including reheating, during a start-up phase of the steam power plant, particularly also during an idle period of the steam power plant, wherein at least one electric consumer is connected upstream of a generator of the steam power plant before synchronization with a power supply grid. The invention further relates to a steam power plant, comprising a generator, a high-pressure steam turbine, and at least one electric consumer, which can also be connected during a start-up phase of the steam power plant, particularly also during an idle period of the steam power plant, in order to increase a steam mass flow of the high-pressure steam turbine before a synchronization process of the generator with a power supply grid.

Abstract: A method of improving the output and efficiency of a pulverized coal plant by integration with a gas turbine and a Heat Recovery Steam Generator. Specifically, embodiments of the invention provide improvements in the performance of an existing coal steam turbine electricity generating plant by the addition of coal gasifiers, a gas turbine and a heat recovery steam generator.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for increasing the final feedwater temperature associated with a regenerative Rankine cycle, said cycle commonly used in thermal systems such as conventional power plants, whose steam generators are fired with a fossil fuel and whose regenerative Rankine cycle employs a reheating of the working fluid. This invention involves the placement of an Exergetic Heater System in the feedwater path of the regenerative Rankine cycle. The Exergetic Heater System conditions and heats feedwater such that the temperature of the cycle's final feedwater as it enters the steam generator has reached a desired value. The Exergetic Heater System receives its driving steam from an Intermediate Pressure turbine extraction.

Abstract: Heat engines suitable for large-scale or micro-scale fabrication supply power from a power turbine. The power turbine is driven in part by an ejector in which a working fluid is utilized as a motive flow. Fuel utilized for combustion may also be utilized as a phase-changing working fluid and as the motive flow driving the ejector. Heat exchangers particularly suitable for micro-scale implementation are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention reduces the fuel consumption of the modern day power plant by lowering the main steam condenser operating pressure. The main steam condenser is a heat exchanger located in the power plant steam system for condensing steam. The main steam enters the main steam condenser, flowing around the tubes with the coolant flowing thru the tubes, condensing the steam. This invention replaces the present condenser once thru cooling water system with a refrigerant cooling system. The much lower normal temperature and greater high heat absorption rate of the refrigerant, lowers the main steam condenser operating pressure much below that of the present cooling water system. The lower condenser pressure increases steam flow, extracting more energy from the steam, increasing the plant-operating efficiency. This invention combines the conventional steam cycle with the conventional refrigeration cycle. The refrigerant compressor is driven by the main steam turbine which creates the binary cycle.

Abstract: The power plant according to the present invention improves the efficiency of conversion from thermal energy to electrical energy, and is provided with a first thermoelectric conversion element that generates electric power by using a difference in temperature between a temperature inside a boiler combustion chamber and a temperature of water supplied to the boiler from a feed water heater, and a second thermoelectric conversion element installed on the feed water heater that generates electric power by using a difference in temperature between a temperature of steam supplied from a turbine and the temperature of water supplied from a condenser.

Abstract: A method for capturing working fluid which includes a hazardous component and is discharged from a power generating system, includes directing the discharge to a container. There, the discharged working fluid is combined with a liquid in which the hazardous component is soluble to form a less hazardous mixture.

Abstract: A system and method for direct-contact condensation with condensate, cold, and heat supplies in steam-turbine power plants, evaporators, and other heat-and-mass transfer equipment having a condenser. Outside snow/ice collectors accumulate and store snow, atmospheric ice, and condensate for transporting the snow/ice coolant to an inside storage area when needed. The snow/ice from outside delivery and from the inside storage area is transported into a hard foreign matter separator. A grinder prepares an atmospheric ice powder to spray into a condenser. A vacuum exhaust pump/air ejector evacuates cold air from a condenser well for a vacuum support and for cooling uses. A condensate pump transports icy condensate from the condenser well to the inside storage area. Filters catch a mud from condensate for feed-water protection from impurities.

Abstract: A hydrokinetic amplifier can pump and heat condensate returned to a boiler in a Rankine cycle system by receiving vapors at different pressures that are directed into merger with a condensate stream that is accelerated through merging regions. By properly selecting parameters for successive stages of a hydrokinetic amplifier and for the liquid and vapor inputs to a hydrokinetic amplifier, the condensate return can be pressurized to boiler pressure and heated close to the boiling point at boiler pressure.

Abstract: A method of operating a water/steam cycle of a thermal power station, for example a steam power station, combined heat and power station or combined cycle power station, having a preheating section for condensate, a steam generator, a steam turbine with a condenser, a condensate treatment system downstream of the condenser, and at least one condensate pump upstream of the condensate treatment system. The treated condensate is subjected to tapped steam from the steam turbine and/or from a steam reheat system in the preheating section and is heated thereby before it is supplied to the steam generator. The condensate is subjected to a pretreatment before reaching the preheating section and its degasification is dispensed with when it subsequently flows through the preheating section. A water/steam cycle of a thermal power station includes a preheating section, a steam generator, a steam turbine downstream of the steam generator, a condenser and a condensate treatment system downstream of the condenser.

Abstract: A steam turbine plant comprising: (a) first, second and third turbines which are coaxially combined with each other; (b) a boiler for supplying high pressure steam to the first turbine; (c) first, second and third bypass means for selectively bypassing steam around the first, second and third turbines, respectively, wherein each of the bypass means comprises means for cooling the steam; (d) a condenser for condensing steam discharged from the third turbine; (e) means for forming a vacuum in the condenser; (f) a first reheater for reheating steam discharged from the first turbine and out of the first bypass means and supplying the steam to the second turbine; (g) a second reheater for reheating steam discharged from the second turbine and from the second bypass means and for supplying the steam to the third turbine; (h) first, second and third control valves for controlling steam flow rates flowing into the first, second and third turbines, respectively; (i) first, second and third bypass valves for controllin

Abstract: Component size difficulties in a closed-cycle steam turbine system are eliminated by disposing an annular regenerator about a turbine wheel and providing spray nozzles at the outlet of the regenerator for eliminating superheat in the exhaust steam passing through the regenerator prior to its condensation in a condenser.

Abstract: Steam generating apparatus and methods wherein a liquid is recirculated within a boiler by use of a constant speed dynamic feed water pump acting both to feed the boiler and to effect recirculating therein by a jet pump with its jet nozzle in liquid flow series with the dynamic pump. The jet pump also receives water from a steam drum for recirculation through the boiler. In the event of excess feed water supply to the boiler a step-function level control for the steam drum bypasses liquid to a condenser. A second jet pump acts to utilize excess feed water to supply cool water from the condenser well under pressure to the dynamic pump so that no water is bypassed to the condenser under on-design operating conditions. For waste heat recovery to provide shaft power automatically with simplified controls.

Abstract: A working fluid in the gaseous state at some initial temperature and pressure is expanded polytropically to a resulting exhaust fluid having some lower temperature and pressure in order to produce useful work. Large quantities of a pressured motive liquid are then employed as the vehicle for approximating an isenthalpic compression of the working fluid. The preferred method for effecting this recompression is to provide an overall adiabatic environment within which the two fluids are placed in thermal but not physical communication. The working fluid is then energized by direct compression during which partial condensation of the working fluid is accompanied by heat transfer to the motive liquid. Thereafter the two fluids are mixed, with the resulting two phases permitting separation and reconstitution of the motive and working fluids to their initial states to complete the thermodynamic cycle which, depending upon the fluids selected, can be located in a broad range of the temperature spectrum.

Abstract: Low pressure steam leaving a turbine (108) is used to preheat a major part of the feed water to a boiler (107) to a higher temperature than the balance of the feed water. The preheated part of the feed water is then introduced into the boiler (107) at a higher temperature zone than the remainder of the feed water.

Abstract: A boiler for a heat sensitive working fluid in which there are three systems, first, a stream of hot combustion gas system, second, a heat transfer fluid system and lastly, a heat sensitive working fluid system. The heat transfer fluid is at the interface between the hot combustion gas and the working fluid so as to prevent the formation of hot spots.

Abstract: A working fluid in the gaseous state at some initial temperature and pressure is expanded polytropically to a resulting exhaust fluid (vapor and liquid) having some lower pressure at some lower temperature in order to produce useful work. The exhaust fluid is then, in a manner approaching constant enthalpy, compressed to the working fluid's nominal original high pressure. Thereafter, the fluid undergoes constant pressure heating to restore its initial state. Of the several methods described for achieving isenthalpic compression, the preferred method uses an isenthalpic compression apparatus which educts the exhaust fluid vapors into a throat located between a motive fluid inlet nozzle and a wider recompression outlet. After eduction, and entrainment into the motive fluid, the exhaust vapors are recompressed by the deceleration produced at the recompression outlet. Thereafter the working fluid and motive fluid are separated.

Abstract: A multi-stage, wet steam turbine employs working fluid, such as steam for example, in its two-phase region with vapor and liquid occurring simultaneously for at least part of the cycle, in particular the nozzle expansion. A smaller number of stages than usual is made possible, and the turbine may handle liquid only. Simple construction, low fuel consumption and high reliability are achieved.

Abstract: A method of operation of a vapor cycle heat engine which includes the steps of regeneration, recompression, reheating and isothermal recompression with feedwater spray injection for improved cycle efficiency.

Abstract: A method for thermally controlling a utilization apparatus heated with condensable steam, mounted in a live steam distribution plant comprising a condensate drain line system for dry gravity return of the condensates which also contains live steam, said method consisting in a selectively variable storage of the condensates through modulated retention within said utilization apparatus, wherein the improvement comprises the step of preventing the collected condensates which are cooled through retention thereof from directly contacting the hot live steam present in said condensate drain line system.

Abstract: A modified Rankine cycle steam engine apparatus employs a jet pump to withdraw cooled steam from an adiabatic expansion engine and return the steam to a boiler for reheating. The jet pump draws the expanded, spent steam from the expansion engine into a throttled flow of steam passing through the jet pump from two tap-off points in the boiler.

Abstract: A minor portion of low pressure exhaust vapor such as exhaust steam is compressed to a temperature above that which a major part of said exhaust vapor is being condensed, suitably by a centrifugal compressor driven by higher pressure vapor from the same source as that which powers a principal turbine that furnishes most of said exhaust vapor. The major part of said exhaust vapor is condensed and the resulting main condensate is passed into heat exchange with the compressed minor portion of the exhaust vapor for generating a heated resulting main condensate and a secondary condensate from condensation of the compressed exhaust vapor. These condensates are withdrawn, suitably for deaeration when the vapor used is steam.

Abstract: In a steam engine, an intermediate phase is provided for preheating the feedwater before it enters the boiler. The preheating is achieved by means of the reapplication of the otherwise dispensable exhaust steam in a simple feedback operation in which the exhaust steam is introduced directly into the feedwater. By means of electronic controls the operation of the system at the highest possible point of preheat (up to 210.degree. F.) is achieved thus assuring both high efficiency of the machine and cumulative economy in fuel consumption as well. The latter is further augmented by generous application of insulation to prevent wasteful dissipation of thermal energy as well as to effect protection of the system against the elements.