Systems and methods axe disclosed herein that generally involve a double pinch criterion for optimization of regenerative Rankine cycles. In some embodiments, operating variables such as bleed extraction pressure and bleed flow rate are selected such that a double pinch is obtained in a feedwater heater, thereby improving the efficiency of the Rankine cycle. In particular, a first pinch point is obtained at the onset of condensation of the bleed and a second pinch point is obtained at the exit of the bleed from the feedwater heater. The minimal approach temperature at the first pinch point can be approximately equal to the minimal approach temperature at the second pinch point. Systems that employ regenerative Rankine cycles, methods of operating such systems, and methods of optimizing the operation of such systems are disclosed herein in connection with the double pinch criterion.

Systems and methods axe disclosed herein that generally involve a double pinch criterion for optimization of regenerative Rankine cycles. In some embodiments, operating variables such as bleed extraction pressure and bleed flow rate are selected such that a double pinch is obtained in a feedwater heater, thereby improving the efficiency of the Rankine cycle. In particular, a first pinch point is obtained at the onset of condensation of the bleed and a second pinch point is obtained at the exit of the bleed from the feedwater heater. The minimal approach temperature at the first pinch point can be approximately equal to the minimal approach temperature at the second pinch point. Systems that employ regenerative Rankine cycles, methods of operating such systems, and methods of optimizing the operation of such systems are disclosed herein in connection with the double pinch criterion.

A small-scale thermoelectric power generator and combustion apparatus, components thereof, methods for making the same, and applications thereof. The thermoelectric power generator can include a burner including a matrix stabilized combustion chamber comprising a catalytically enhanced, porous flame containment portion. The combustion apparatus can include components connected in a loop configuration including a vaporization chamber; a mixing chamber connected to the vaporization chamber; a combustion chamber connected to the vaporization chamber; and a heat exchanger connected to the combustion chamber. The combustion chamber can include a porous combustion material which can include a unique catalytic material.

The invention relates to a power plant (1) for generating electric energy (100) and process steam (200), comprising: —a gas turbine (2) for driving a first generator (3) in order to generate electric energy (100) by combusting a fuel into flue gas (300), —a steam turbine (4) for driving a second generator (5) in order to generate electric energy (100), comprising a first stage (4a) for converting fresh steam (400) into residual steam (201), which constitutes at least part of the process steam (200), and —a waste heat steam generator (6) for generating the fresh steam (400) from fresh water (500) using the exhaust heat of the flue gas (300), wherein —the residual steam (201) has a residual steam pressure which is lower than the pressure of the fresh steam (400), —the waste heat steam generator (6) comprises a pre-heater (7) for pre-heating the fresh water (500) in order to form feed water (600) and an evaporator (8) for evaporating the feed water (600) in order to form the fresh steam (400), and —the feed water (600) has a feed water pressure which is higher than the residual steam pressure. The invention is characterized by a throttle valve (9, 14) for expanding part of the feed water (600) either at the residual steam pressure in order to generate an additional steam (202) or at a drive steam pressure which is lower than the residual steam pressure in order to generate a drive steam (700) for operating a second stage (4b) of the steam turbine (4).

The invention relates to a power plant (1) for generating electric energy (100) and process steam (200), comprising: —a gas turbine (2) for driving a first generator (3) in order to generate electric energy (100) by combusting a fuel into flue gas (300), —a steam turbine (4) for driving a second generator (5) in order to generate electric energy (100), comprising a first stage (4a) for converting fresh steam (400) into residual steam (201), which constitutes at least part of the process steam (200), and —a waste heat steam generator (6) for generating the fresh steam (400) from fresh water (500) using the exhaust heat of the flue gas (300), wherein —the residual steam (201) has a residual steam pressure which is lower than the pressure of the fresh steam (400), —the waste heat steam generator (6) comprises a pre-heater (7) for pre-heating the fresh water (500) in order to form feed water (600) and an evaporator (8) for evaporating the feed water (600) in order to form the fresh steam (400), and —the feed water (600) has a feed water pressure which is higher than the residual steam pressure. The invention is characterized by a throttle valve (9, 14) for expanding part of the feed water (600) either at the residual steam pressure in order to generate an additional steam (202) or at a drive steam pressure which is lower than the residual steam pressure in order to generate a drive steam (700) for operating a second stage (4b) of the steam turbine (4).

The systems and methods described herein integrate a supercritical fluid power generation system with a LNG production/NGL separation system. A heat exchanger thermally couples the supercritical fluid power generation system with the LNG production/NGL separation system. A relatively cool heat transfer medium, such as carbon dioxide, passes through the heat exchanger and cools a first portion of extracted natural gas. The relatively warm heat transfer medium returns to the supercritical fluid power generation system where a compressor and a thermal input device, such as a combustor, are used to increase the pressure and temperature of the heat transfer medium above its critical point to provide a supercritical heat transfer medium. A second portion of the extracted natural gas may be used as fuel for the thermal input device.

The systems and methods described herein integrate a supercritical fluid power generation system with a LNG production/NGL separation system. A heat exchanger thermally couples the supercritical fluid power generation system with the LNG production/NGL separation system. A relatively cool heat transfer medium, such as carbon dioxide, passes through the heat exchanger and cools a first portion of extracted natural gas. The relatively warm heat transfer medium returns to the supercritical fluid power generation system where a compressor and a thermal input device, such as a combustor, are used to increase the pressure and temperature of the heat transfer medium above its critical point to provide a supercritical heat transfer medium. A second portion of the extracted natural gas may be used as fuel for the thermal input device.

Systems and methods are provided for charging a pumped thermal energy storage (“PTES”) system. A system may include a compressor or pump configured to circulate a working fluid within a fluid circuit, wherein the working fluid enters the pump at a first pressure and exits at a second pressure; a first heat exchanger through which the working fluid circulates in use; a second heat exchanger through which the working fluid circulates in use; a third heat exchanger through which the working fluid circulates in use, a turbine positioned between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, configured to expand the working fluid to the first pressure; a high temperature reservoir connected to the first heat exchanger; a low temperature reservoir connected to the second heat exchanger, and a waste heat reservoir connected to the third heat exchanger.

Systems and methods are provided for charging a pumped thermal energy storage (“PTES”) system. A system may include a compressor or pump configured to circulate a working fluid within a fluid circuit, wherein the working fluid enters the pump at a first pressure and exits at a second pressure; a first heat exchanger through which the working fluid circulates in use; a second heat exchanger through which the working fluid circulates in use; a third heat exchanger through which the working fluid circulates in use, a turbine positioned between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, configured to expand the working fluid to the first pressure; a high temperature reservoir connected to the first heat exchanger; a low temperature reservoir connected to the second heat exchanger, and a waste heat reservoir connected to the third heat exchanger.

In a cryogenic combined cycle power plant electric power drives a cryogenic refrigerator to store energy by cooling air to a liquid state for storage within tanks, followed by subsequent release of the stored energy by first pressurizing the liquid air, then regasifying the liquid air and raising the temperature of the regasified air at least in part with heat exhausted from a combustion turbine, and then expanding the heated regasified air through a hot gas expander to generate power. The expanded regasified air exhausted from the expander may be used to cool and make denser the inlet air to the combustion turbine. The combustion turbine exhaust gases may be used to drive an organic Rankine bottoming cycle. An alternative source of heat such as thermal storage, for example, may be used in place of or in addition to the combustion turbine.