Abstract: A fuel conditioning system configured to supply an aircraft turbine engine with fuel from a cryogenic tank. The fuel circuit comprising a buffer tank for supplying the turbine engine and a plurality of compression modules configured to supply the buffer tank, each compression module comprising an elementary tank of fixed volume, an elementary heat source configured to increase the temperature of the fuel in the elementary tank in an isochoric manner, an inlet valve connecting the elementary tank to an upstream part of the fuel circuit, an outlet valve connecting the elementary tank to the buffer tank, and a venting valve connecting the elementary tank to the cryogenic tank via a return circuit in which a gaseous stream circulates.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating power includes a heated fluid reservoir including a heated fluid, a back-pressure control channel, an energy extractor coupled to the heated fluid reservoir and the back-pressure control channel, and a pressure ejector coupled to the back-pressure control channel. The back-pressure control channel includes a fluid mobilization device configured to circulate an internal fluid and to form a low-pressure region within the back-pressure control channel. The energy extractor includes an energy extraction rotor. The low-pressure region in the back-pressure control channel causes the heated fluid from the heated fluid reservoir to be entrained through the energy extractor forming an entrained fluid. The energy extraction rotor is configured to extract power from the entrained fluid. The pressure ejector is configured to transmit the entrained fluid to an exhaust reservoir.

Abstract: A pumped heat storage apparatus has a prime mover, a power take off, first and second fluid working machines functioning as a compressor (8) and as an expander (10), a working fluid circulation pathway with high and low pressure sides, and high and low temperature heat exchangers (18A-B). The heat exchangers operate using direct contact between gaseous working fluid and solid thermal storage media, such as glass beads, which move in opposite directions, typically using an augur (44). The system is reversible between energy storage and energy recovery modes and when it reverses, the direction of movement of the working fluid and the thermal storage media reverses. The apparatus may very rapidly swap between energy storage and energy recovery while having a high capacity and energy throughout.

Abstract: A new combined SEOL cycle is represented by the recovery vapor Generator (GVR) which completely substitutes the Regenerator, of the prior art, being capable of recovering the energy differential (QR) between the temperature at the end of expansion and the temperature at nearly complete condensation of the thermal fluid and then, by using this great energy differential, it is capable of producing water vapor, entirely reusable in the preheating of the mixture, considerably contributing to the increase of the overall energy yield of the cycle and to the increase of the unit power of the heat engine.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a system and method are provided for storing a liquid mixed refrigerant (MR) separated and stored as Low boiling point (LBP) and high boiling point (HBP) components. These storage components are later used in conjunction with heating and/or cooling sources in effecting the operation of a Rankine cycle to generate electric or mechanical power on a dispatch or when needed basis. The MR is reconstituted by combining the LBP and HBP. In a cycle, the LBP and HBP are later separated from the MR utilizing sporadically available energy sources (for example, solar, wind, hydro, etc.) or consistently available sources (for example geothermal).

Abstract: A method and system in which a waste gas or liquid product is combusted or otherwise used at a well site or other source location to drive a generator to produce electrical energy which is then stored in a portable storage device, such as rechargeable battery or an array of rechargeable batteries, which can subsequently be transported, for example, to a charging station for vehicles or other electrical devices or systems, or to a delivery location for downloading the portable stored electrical energy to a power supply grid.

Abstract: A low-temperature heat utilization assembly may be configured to decouple low-temperature heat from process gas at temperatures below 200° C. and to provide the process gas at a lowered intermediate temperature or at a still further lowered final temperature for at least one subsequent process. In the low-temperature heat utilization assembly the process gas may be fed to a first unit, by means of which the temperature may be lowered to the intermediate temperature. The process gas may in some cases be provided to a heat exchanger stage for further lowering to the final temperature. The first unit is an ORC unit for energy transformation of the heat energy into electrical energy and may be coupled to an electrical consumer unit. The ORC unit may be configured for energy feedback of electrical energy within the low-temperature heat utilization assembly or to a process upstream of the ORC unit.

Abstract: Device for expanding a fluid, wherein the device (1) is provided with an expander element (2) for expanding the fluid, a generator (3) and a transmission (4) between the two, characterized in that the generator (3) is a liquid-cooled generator and the expander element (2) is heated using liquid, wherein the device (1) is further provided with a common liquid circuit (8) for the generator (3) and the expander element (2), wherein the liquid circuit (8) comprises a liquid pump (10) which can pump up liquid from a liquid reservoir (11), wherein the liquid circuit (8) also comprises a liquid line (9) which runs from the liquid reservoir (11) and which incorporates the liquid pump (10), the generator (3) and the expander element (2).

Abstract: A heat transport system includes: a two-phase closed loop heat pipe; a pump disposed in a liquid conduit or a vapor conduit of the loop heat pipe to exert a circulation drive force on a working fluid; a tilt sensor that detects a tilt of the loop heat pipe; and a controller configured to run the pump if the tilt is greater than a predetermined tilt threshold and stop the pump if the tilt is equal to or smaller than the tilt threshold.

Abstract: A power plant comprises supplies of hydrogen fuel, oxygen fuel and water, a boiler comprising a burner for combusting hydrogen and oxygen to produce heat, combustion products and low/intermediate-pressure steam and a first heat exchanger configured to heat water to generate high-pressure steam, and a steam turbine comprising a first turbine configured to be driven only with the high-pressure steam to provide input to a first electrical generator and a second turbine configured to be driven by low/intermediate-pressure steam from the boiler. A method of operating a steam plant comprises combusting hydrogen fuel in a boiler to produce combustion products and LP/IP steam, turning a turbine with the combustion products, condensing water from the combustion products in a condenser, heating water from the condenser in a heat exchanger within the boiler to produce HP steam and turning a turbine with the steam from the first heat exchanger.

Abstract: A method for converting heat to mechanical work including providing incoming heat transfer fluid (HTF) at a first temperature to a mixing chamber, providing incoming compressed gas at a second temperature to the mixing chamber, enabling the gas and the HTF to mix, producing a gas-and-HTF mix, enabling the HTF in the gas-and-HTF mix to heat the gas and isothermal expansion of the gas in the gas-and-HTF mix, limiting volume of the gas-and-HTF mix, thereby increasing pressure of the gas and causing acceleration of a flow of the gas-and-HTF mix, causing the gas-and-HTF mix to eject through a nozzle, thereby converting the heat of the HTF to kinetic energy, and using the kinetic energy to produce mechanical work. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

Abstract: A distributed metering device and method based on a matching coefficient, wherein the room temperature is regulated by means of an on-off controller according to an on-off time area method based heat metering device, and heat meter for the building is distributed to heat consumers according to a ratio of the on-off control valve opening cumulative time, the building area and the radiator power to a design heat load; or multiplying the ratio of heat meter reading of each household divided by heat load per unit area of each household to heat reading of a heat meter of each household of the entire building divided by the sum of the heat load per unit area of each household by the heat meter reading of a settlement point as the user's shared heat according to a heat meter method based household metering device.

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: The invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for integration of renewable and conventional energy to enhance electric reliability and reduce fuel consumption and emissions via thermal energy storage.

Abstract: A cooling system containing a two-phase refrigerant that comprises a condenser, an evaporator and a conveying device. The evaporator is integrated in a heat source or thermally coupled thereto. Gaseous refrigerant from the evaporator is expanded in an expander, converted into mechanical energy and used to drive a generator for generation of electricity. Furthermore, an aircraft comprising a cooling system, wherein an electrical drive is supplied with electricity from a fuel cell, cooled using the cooling system, and the generator of the cooling system.

Abstract: Systems and generating power in an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) operation to supply electrical power. In embodiments, an inlet temperature of a flow of gas from a source to an ORC unit may be determined. The source may connect to a main pipeline. The main pipeline may connect to a supply pipeline. The supply pipeline may connect to the ORC unit thereby to allow gas to flow from the source to the ORC unit. Heat from the flow of gas may cause the ORC unit to generate electrical power. The outlet temperature of the flow of the gas from the ORC unit to a return pipe may be determined. A flow of working fluid may be adjusted to a percentage sufficient to maintain temperature of the flow of compressed gas within the selected operating temperature range.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating and a controller for controlling generation of geothermal power in an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) operation in the vicinity of a wellhead during hydrocarbon production to thereby supply electrical power to one or more of in-field operational equipment, a grid power structure, and an energy storage device. In an embodiment, during hydrocarbon production, a temperature of a flow of wellhead fluid from the wellhead or working fluid may be determined. If the temperature is above a vaporous phase change threshold of the working fluid, heat exchanger valves may be opened to divert flow of wellhead fluid to heat exchangers to facilitate heat transfer from the flow of wellhead fluid to working fluid through the heat exchangers, thereby to cause the working fluid to change from a liquid to vapor, the vapor to cause a generator to generate electrical power via rotation of an expander.

Abstract: An ALBERT Process (Accumulation of Latent BTU's & Electricity for Retention & Transfer) is described in various forms, and systems are described for performing the process. In various embodiments, a system and method are provided for storing a liquid mixed refrigerant (MR) separated and stored as Low boiling point (LBP) and high boiling point (HBP) components. These storage components are later used in conjunction with heating and/or cooling sources in effecting the operation of a Rankine cycle to generate electric or mechanical power on a dispatch or when needed basis. The MR is reconstituted by combining the LBP and HBP. In a cycle, the LBP and HBP are later separated from the MR utilizing sporadically available energy sources (for example, solar, wind, hydro, etc.) or consistently available sources (for example geothermal).

Abstract: An impeller includes a housing having a fluid inlet cavity defining a rotational axis. A plurality of vane are inlets arranged along an inner surface of the fluid inlet cavity and a plurality of vane outlets are circumferentially arranged along a rim of the housing. Each of the vane outlets is fluidly connected to a corresponding vane inlet by a corresponding internal channel situated internal to the housing. Each of the channels maintains a triangular cross-section from the vane inlet to the vane outlet.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a first magnetic pole, a second magnetic pole, a magnetic element, and a magnetic member. The magnetic element is provided between the first and second magnetic poles, and includes a first magnetic layer. The magnetic member includes a first magnetic part. A second direction from the first magnetic part to the magnetic element crosses a first direction from the first to second magnetic pole. The first magnetic part includes a magnetic material including at least one of first to third materials. The first material includes at least one selected from the group consisting of Mn3Sn, Mn3Ge and Mn3Ga. The second material includes at least one selected from the group consisting of a cubic or tetragonal compound including Mn and Ni, a cubic alloy including ?-phase Mn, and a cubic alloy including Fe. The third material includes an antiferromagnet.

Abstract: A system comprising a collocated thermal plant, water source, CO2 source and biomass growth module is disclosed. A method of improving the environment by utilizing the system is disclosed.

Abstract: A thermal management system includes an open-circuit refrigeration system including a cooling system configured to supply a cooling medium. The open-circuit refrigeration system includes a receiver having a receiver outlet, the receiver configurable to store a refrigerant fluid, the receiver configured to receive the cooling medium from the cooling system, an evaporator coupled to the receiver outlet, the evaporator configurable to receive liquid refrigerant fluid from the receiver outlet and to extract heat from a heat load when the heat load contacts or is proximate to the evaporator a control device configurable to control a temperature of the heat load and an exhaust line, with the receiver, the evaporator, and the exhaust line coupled to form an open-circuit refrigerant fluid flow path.

Abstract: To produce power using the cold in a stored fluid in a cold condensed state (for example, LNG or liquid air), the fluid is initially pumped, heated, and expanded to generate a first amount of power and form initially expanded fluid, which is then re-condensed, re-pumped, re-heated, and re-expanded to generate a second amount of power, where the initially expanded fluid is re-condensed against the pumped fluid from the initial pumping. The technique can be used to store excess energy in the cold condensed fluid using excess energy generation capacity for subsequent recovery when energy is either deficient or otherwise more expense to generate.

Abstract: Disclosed is an environmentally friendly near-azeotropic mixed refrigerant, consisting essentially of HFO-1234 yf, HFE-143a and a third component, with the mass percentage of each component being: 70%-98% of HFO-1234yf, 1%-15% of HFE-143a and 1%-15% of the third component. The refrigerant of the present invention is environmentally friendly, excellent in thermodynamic properties, can directly realize drop-in substitution in an original system using HFC-134a without changing any parts, and can be used as a long term alternative to HFC-134a.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and process for electricity generation using steam production by hydrogen combustion, and more particularly to a Rankine Cycle system and process for the generation of electricity using a primary pure hydrogen fuel source for the generation of steam in the boiler system. The Rankine Cycle system and process may also use one or more secondary fuel sources in combination with the primary hydrogen fuel source to supplement the primary pure hydrogen fuel if necessary. Additionally, the inventive system and process can use a flame temperature reducing fluid for lowering bulk flame temperature of a burner in the boiler system to increase equipment life and decrease equipment failure. The inventive Rankine Cycle system and process reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, and reduce bulk flame temperatures to increase equipment life and decrease equipment failure.

Abstract: Systems and generating power in an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) operation to supply electrical power. In embodiments, an inlet temperature of a flow of gas from a source to an ORC unit may be determined. The source may connect to a main pipeline. The main pipeline may connect to a supply pipeline. The supply pipeline may connect to the ORC unit thereby to allow gas to flow from the source to the ORC unit. Heat from the flow of gas may cause the ORC unit to generate electrical power. The outlet temperature of the flow of the gas from the ORC unit to a return pipe may be determined. A flow of working fluid may be adjusted to a percentage sufficient to maintain temperature of the flow of compressed gas within the selected operating temperature range.

Abstract: Centralizing the handling and manipulating of vaporization medium to a single subsystem that supplies multiple ammonia vaporizers allows for efficient and effective production of a corresponding vaporized ammonia stream containing a controlled quantity of ammonia. These vaporized ammonia streams can then be used in conjunction with ammonia-consuming devices to reduce NOx in NOx-containing exhaust streams from multiple furnaces.

Abstract: The heat cycle facility includes: a first vaporizer that vaporizes a first liquid heating medium by combusting fuel; a first motive power generator that generates motive power by using as a drive fluid a first gas heating medium obtained at the first vaporizer; a condenser that condenses the first gas heating medium discharged from the first motive power generator by heat-exchanging the first gas heating medium for a second liquid heating medium; a circulator that pressurizes the first liquid heating medium obtained at the condenser and supplies the pressurized first liquid heating medium to the first vaporizer; a second vaporizer that produces gaseous ammonia by heat-exchanging the second liquid heating medium for liquid ammonia; and a supplier that supplies the liquid ammonia to the second vaporizer.

Abstract: One embodiment of an improved thermal power cycle comprising a wet binary motive fluid, pump (21), evaporator (22), expander (23), and condenser (24). Using a binary motive fluid, it can operate efficiently over a lower range of heat source temperatures than the steam Rankine cycle. Using a wet binary motive fluid, it eliminates the need for superheating the fluid in evaporator (22), allows for complete expansion of the fluid in expander (23), and reduces 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: An expander of the piston (2) and cylinder (3) type is inverted from normal orientation, with the crankshaft (4) upper most and the cylinder “head” (5) lower most. The cylinder head has a pair of liquid injectors (6, 7) oriented for respective liquids pentane and glycerine to be injected as mists into contact with each other at the bottom of the cylinder. The pentane is vaporised by transfer of latent heat to it from the glycerine. Respective injector valves (9, 10) from high pressure rails (11, 12) fed by pumps (14, 15) are provided. An exhaust valve (16) is opened by a cam (17) driven at crankshaft speed by a chain drive.

Abstract: A supercritical CO2 power generating system prevents cold-end corrosion capable of improving reliability against cold-end corrosion by including a recirculation pump. Part of the working fluid heated in the low-temperature-side external heat exchanger using the recirculation pump is mixed with the low-temperature working fluid at the rear end of the pump, to heat the working fluid above the temperature of the dewpoint of the waste heat gas. The heated working fluid is then supplied to the external heat exchanger. By reducing the cold-end corrosion phenomenon of the low-temperature-side external heat exchanger, the life of the external heat exchanger can be increased and the reliability of the external heat exchanger and the supercritical CO2 power generating system can be improved.

Abstract: Certain aspects of a natural gas liquid fractionation plant waste heat conversion to potable water using modified multi-effect distillation system can be implemented as a system that includes a waste heat recovery heat exchanger network thermally coupled to multiple heat sources of a Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) fractionation plant. The heat exchanger network is configured to recover at least a portion of heat generated at the multiple heat sources. The system includes a sub-system thermally coupled to the waste heat recovery heat exchanger network to receive at least a portion of heat recovered by the heat exchanger network. The sub-system is configured to perform one or more operations using at least the portion of heat recovered by the heat exchanger network.

Abstract: A method for producing heating in a high temperature heat pump having a heat exchanger is provided. The method comprises extracting heat from a working fluid, thereby producing a cooled working fluid wherein said working fluid comprises (2E)-1,1,1,4,5,5,5-heptafluoro-4-(trifluoromethyl)pent-2-ene (“HFO-153-10mzzy”). Also, a high temperature heat pump apparatus is provided containing a working fluid comprising HFO-153-10mzzy. Also a composition is provided comprising (i) a working fluid consisting essentially of HFO-153-10mzzy; and (ii) a stabilizer to prevent degradation at temperatures of 55° C. or above, or (iii) a lubricant suitable for use at 55° C. or above, or both (ii) and (iii).

Abstract: A rankine cycle system includes: an internal combustion engine; a gas-liquid separator; a first pump; a steam generator; a superheater; an expander; a condenser; a first control valve; and a controller.

Abstract: A process for the generation of electricity comprises the steps of extracting a warm saline stream from a geothermal formation, and converting latent osmotic energy present in said stream into electricity by passage through an osmotic power unit in which said stream is passed over one side of a semi-permeable membrane which permits the passage of water but not the passage of salts, an aqueous stream of lower salinity than said stream being passed over the other side of said membrane. The temperature of said warm saline stream is reduced before said stream enters the osmotic power unit by passage through a thermal power unit in which thermal energy present in said stream is converted into electricity.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a cascaded recompression closed Brayton cycle (CRCBC) system and method of operation thereof, where the CRCBC system includes a compressor for compressing the system fluid, a separator for generating fluid feed streams for each of the system's turbines, and separate segments of a heater that heat the fluid feed streams to different feed temperatures for the system's turbines. Fluid exiting each turbine is used to preheat the fluid to the turbine. In an embodiment, the amount of heat extracted is determined by operational costs.

Abstract: Optimizing power generation from waste heat in large industrial facilities such as petroleum refineries by utilizing a subset of all available hot source streams selected based, in part, on considerations for example, capital cost, ease of operation, economics of scale power generation, a number of ORC machines to be operated, operating conditions of each ORC machine, combinations of them, or other considerations are described. Recognizing that several subsets of hot sources can be identified from among the available hot sources in a large petroleum refinery, subsets of hot sources that are optimized to provide waste heat to one or more ORC machines for power generation are also described.

Abstract: Optimizing power generation from waste heat in large industrial facilities such as petroleum refineries by utilizing a subset of all available hot source streams selected based, in part, on considerations for example, capital cost, ease of operation, economics of scale power generation, a number of ORC machines to be operated, operating conditions of each ORC machine, combinations of them, or other considerations are described. Subsets of hot sources that are optimized to provide waste heat to one or more ORC machines for power generation are also described. Further, recognizing that the utilization of waste heat from all available hot sources in a mega-site such as a petroleum refinery and aromatics complex is not necessarily or not always the best option, hot source units in petroleum refineries from which waste heat can be consolidated to power the one or more ORC machines are identified.

Abstract: A thermal energy recovery device includes: a circulating flow path connected to a heater, an expander, a condenser and a circulating pump for circulating a working medium; a bypass valve in a bypass path connecting the upstream side region and the downstream side region of the expander in the circulating flow path; a power recovery machine connected to the expander; a circulating pump sending the working medium condensed in the condenser to the heater; a cooling medium pump sending a cooling medium to the condenser; an upstream side sensor detecting the pressure/temperature of the working medium on the expander upstream side in the circulating flow path; and a controller controlling the bypass valve and the cooling medium pump. The controller opens the bypass valve after stopping the circulating pump, and drives the cooling medium pump if the pressure/temperature of the working medium on the expander upstream side exceeds a threshold.

Abstract: An object is to enable a compact and high output heat storage system to perform warm-up rapidly when a vehicle is started up, and after warm-up, to recover surplus heat that is present in a heat source in the vehicle to prepare for the next warm-up event. A heat recovery-type heating device includes: an ammonia buffer configured so as to be capable of fixing and desorbing ammonia that serves as a chemical reaction medium; and a chemical heat storage reactor provided with a chemical heat storage material that generates heat through a chemical reaction with ammonia supplied from the ammonia buffer, and that desorbs ammonia using surplus heat from a heat source and returns the ammonia to the ammonia buffer.

Abstract: A method comprises receiving a carbon dioxide recycle stream having carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons. The carbon dioxide recycle stream is fed to a catalytic reactor. The hydrocarbons are converted to carbon dioxide in the catalytic reactor by a catalytic reaction without combustion to form a purified carbon dioxide recycle stream. Electrical energy is generated by using heat produced by the catalytic reactor in the conversion. Another method comprises receiving a recycle stream having carbon dioxide, C1-C2 hydrocarbons, and C3+ hydrocarbons. The C3+ hydrocarbons are separated from the carbon dioxide and the C1-C2 hydrocarbons. The carbon dioxide and the C1-C2 hydrocarbons are fed to a catalytic reactor at a pressure greater than about 300 pounds per square inch (psi), and the C1-C2 hydrocarbons are converted to carbon dioxide, water, and heat.

Abstract: A cold state engine utilizing air heat energy to output work, refrigeration and water, includes a first cycle and a second cycle. The first cycle comprises of vaporizer, expander, and working fluid pump. The second cycle includes a vaporizer, circulation pump, air heat exchanger. The two cycles are opera lively interconnected via at least a vaporizer, piping, valves, sensors and a generator. Using air or water as a high temperature heat source, an expander generates cryogenic liquid as a low temperature heat source, using natural gases (such as N2, He, Air, CO2 etc.) as a working fluid, based on methods of cryogenic working fluid thermodynamic-refrigeration cycle and frost-free two stage heat exchange cycle.

Abstract: A novel method and system for storing high purity hydrogen into a salt cavern is provided. Particularly, the storage process involves storing high purity hydrogen into a salt cavern without seepage or leakage of the stored hydrogen through the salt cavern walls, by creating a substantially impermeable permeation barrier along the salt cavern walls. The cavern pressure is monitored and controlled to ensure formation and maintenance of the substantially impermeable permeation barrier. Optional temperature treatments may also be incorporated as desired.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ORC (Organic Rankine Cycle) for the conversion of thermal energy into electric energy, comprising at least one heat exchanger unit for re-superheating the working fluid by means of the thermovector fluid from the hot source, between the discharge of the first expander and the input of the second expander, and a regenerator unit including a first regenerator and at least one second regenerator for regenerating the working fluid in at least two successive stages, in said first regenerator and at least in said second regenerator respectively, with an additional regenerative heat exchange along the flow line connecting the liquid working fluid output of the second regenerator to the liquid working fluid input of the first regenerator.

Abstract: A superheat sensor includes a housing, a pressure sensor mounted within the housing, a temperature sensor that is integrated to the pressure sensor, and/or is external to the pressure sensor, a fluid passageway connecting the pressure sensor to a source of superheat fluid, and a processor.

Abstract: A system for recycling heat or energy of a working medium of a heat engine for producing mechanical work is described. The system may comprise a first heat exchanger (204) for transferring heat from a working medium output from an energy extraction device (202) to a heating agent to vaporise the heating agent; a second heat exchanger (240) for transferring further heat to the vaporised heating agent; a compressor (231) coupled to the second heat exchanger (240) arranged to compress the further-heated heating agent; and a third heat exchanger (211) for transferring heat from the compressed heating agent to the working medium. A heat pump is also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for performing an ORC-process, comprising a first circular flow (16) in which a first process fluid (18) is conducted, having an evaporator (14) for evaporating the first process fluid (18), an expansion machine (22) located downstream of the evaporator (14) for expanding the evaporated first process fluid (18), wherein the expansion machine (22) is connectable to a generator (26) for generating electrical energy, a first condenser (28) located downstream of the expansion machine (22) for condensing the expanded first process fluid (18), and a first fluid energy machine (34) located downstream of the first condenser (28) for increasing the pressure of the condensed first process fluid (18) and for transporting the first process fluid (18) to the evaporator (14) that is located downstream of the first fluid energy machine (34).

Abstract: The invention relates to energy conversion and generation systems, and more specifically, to a unit for generating and converting energy by way of a pressure differential in a Working Fluid. A Pressure Power Unit is described which comprises a condenser and a vaporizer arranged in a closed loop, the condenser and vaporizer being respectively maintained at lower and higher temperatures relative to one another. A Working Fluid is circulated through the closed loop, the Working Fluid having different equilibrium vapor pressures in the condenser and in the vaporizer, according to the respective state functions, representing two different levels of elastic potential energy. This results in a pressure differential between the condenser and the vaporizer. A work extraction system is positioned between the outlet of the vaporizer and the inlet of the condenser, to convert the elastic potential energy/pressure differential into kinetic energy. Other embodiments of the invention are also described.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for operating a plurality of independent, closed cycle power plant modules each having a vaporizer comprising the steps of serially supplying a medium or low temperature source fluid to each corresponding vaporizer of one or more first plant modules, respectively, to a secondary preheater of a first module, and to a vaporizer of a terminal module, whereby to produce heat depleted source fluid; providing a primary preheater for each vaporizer; and supplying said heat depleted source fluid to all of said primary preheaters in parallel.

Abstract: A thermodynamic system and method for performing work includes a working fluid and a fluid pump for pumping the working fluid through a cycle. A thermal input supplies heat to the working fluid. An expansion device downstream of the thermal input converts at least the heat of the working fluid to useful work. A heat exchanger downstream of the expansion device has a first portion to transfer heat from downstream said expansion device to a second portion at or upstream of said thermal input. A conversion device expands the working fluid with constant enthalpy from a higher to a lower pressure. The conversion device may be part of a heat pump pumping heat from one portion of said working fluid to another portion of the working fluid.