This disclosure describes systems, methods, and devices related to generating electricity with a water engine. A water engine may include a boiler; a solar oven to retain heat with which the boiler is to heat a liquid to generate steam; a spout extending from the boiler to the liquid, through which the steam passes from the solar oven to the liquid and through which the liquid passes to the solar oven; a floating platform to float on the liquid; and a magnetic rotor operationally connected to the floating platform and to generate electricity by spinning in the liquid.

The present disclosure relates to a multi-pressure stage, organic Rankine cycle (ORC) that includes a dry organic working fluid that may be split, such that a first portion of the working fluid flows through a high pressure stage and a second portion of the working fluid flows through a low pressure stage. Components of the high pressure stage and the low pressure stage may be heated by a heat source stream that may be split in a tee downstream of a high pressure evaporator and recombined in a mixer before entering a low pressure preheater.

The present disclosure relates to a multi-pressure stage, organic Rankine cycle (ORC) that includes a dry organic working fluid that may be split, such that a first portion of the working fluid flows through a high pressure stage and a second portion of the working fluid flows through a low pressure stage. Components of the high pressure stage and the low pressure stage may be heated by a heat source stream that may be split in a tee downstream of a high pressure evaporator and recombined in a mixer before entering a low pressure preheater.

A vapor powered electro-mechanical generator comprises a cylinder, which is sealed at both ends in which two pistons slidingly move in opposite directions simultaneously. A tube on which the pistons also slide lies at the center of the longitudinal axis of the cylinder. The tube transfers vapor from the inlet to the pressurized side of the pistons to actuate pistons, while one or more exhaust valves are simultaneously opened on the opposite end of the piston stroke allowing the expanded vapor to flow to a condensing system. The pistons consist of magnets at their peripheral circumference. As the vapor expands, the pistons magnets move through coils of conductive wire producing electric current. Further, repulsion magnets repel corresponding piston magnets to provide a cushioned rebound effect while conserving momentum of the generator.

A vapor powered electro-mechanical generator comprises a cylinder, which is sealed at both ends in which two pistons slidingly move in opposite directions simultaneously. A tube on which the pistons also slide lies at the center of the longitudinal axis of the cylinder. The tube transfers vapor from the inlet to the pressurized side of the pistons to actuate pistons, while one or more exhaust valves are simultaneously opened on the opposite end of the piston stroke allowing the expanded vapor to flow to a condensing system. The pistons consist of magnets at their peripheral circumference. As the vapor expands, the pistons magnets move through coils of conductive wire producing electric current. Further, repulsion magnets repel corresponding piston magnets to provide a cushioned rebound effect while conserving momentum of the generator.

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

An improved heat engine includes at least one heat pipe containing a working fluid flowing in a thermal cycle between vapor phase at an evaporator end and liquid phase at a condenser end. The heat pipe may have an improved capillary structure configuration with a continuous or stepwise gradient in pore size along the capillary flow direction. The heat engine may have an improved generator assembly configuration that includes an expander (e.g. rotary/turbine or reciprocating piston machine) and generator along with magnetic bearings, magnetic couplings, and/or magnetic gearing. The expander-generator may be wholly or partially sealed within the heat pipe. A heat engine system (e.g. individual heat engine or array of heat engines in series and/or in parallel) for converting thermal energy to useful work (including heat engines operating from a common heat source) is also disclosed. The system can be installed in a vehicle or facility to generate electricity.

An improved heat engine includes at least one heat pipe containing a working fluid flowing in a thermal cycle between vapor phase at an evaporator end and liquid phase at a condenser end. The heat pipe may have an improved capillary structure configuration with a continuous or stepwise gradient in pore size along the capillary flow direction. The heat engine may have an improved generator assembly configuration that includes an expander (e.g. rotary/turbine or reciprocating piston machine) and generator along with magnetic bearings, magnetic couplings, and/or magnetic gearing. The expander-generator may be wholly or partially sealed within the heat pipe. A heat engine system (e.g. individual heat engine or array of heat engines in series and/or in parallel) for converting thermal energy to useful work (including heat engines operating from a common heat source) is also disclosed. The system can be installed in a vehicle or facility to generate electricity.

The invention relates to a method for regulating a condenser in a thermal cycle apparatus, in particular in an ORC apparatus, wherein the thermal cycle apparatus comprises a feed pump for conveying liquid working medium with an increase in pressure to an evaporator, the evaporator for evaporating and optionally additionally superheating the working medium with a supply of heat, an expansion machine for generating mechanical energy by expansion of the evaporated working medium, a generator for at least partially converting the mechanical energy into electrical energy, and the condenser for condensing the expanded working medium, and wherein the method comprises the following steps: determining a rotational speed of the generator or of the expansion machine; determining, without the use of a temperature sensor, a temperature of cooling air supplied from the condenser; determining from the determined generator or expansion machine rotational speed and the determined cooling air temperature, a condensation setpoint pressure at which the net electrical power of the thermal cycle apparatus is at a maximum; and controlling or regulating the condensation pressure, with the condensation setpoint pressure as target value, in particular by adjusting a condenser fan rotational speed.

The invention relates to a method for regulating a condenser in a thermal cycle apparatus, in particular in an ORC apparatus, wherein the thermal cycle apparatus comprises a feed pump for conveying liquid working medium with an increase in pressure to an evaporator, the evaporator for evaporating and optionally additionally superheating the working medium with a supply of heat, an expansion machine for generating mechanical energy by expansion of the evaporated working medium, a generator for at least partially converting the mechanical energy into electrical energy, and the condenser for condensing the expanded working medium, and wherein the method comprises the following steps: determining a rotational speed of the generator or of the expansion machine; determining, without the use of a temperature sensor, a temperature of cooling air supplied from the condenser; determining from the determined generator or expansion machine rotational speed and the determined cooling air temperature, a condensation setpoint pressure at which the net electrical power of the thermal cycle apparatus is at a maximum; and controlling or regulating the condensation pressure, with the condensation setpoint pressure as target value, in particular by adjusting a condenser fan rotational speed.