A method for generating power from a heat source includes mixing a refrigerant in a liquid phase with a lubricating oil, heating the mixture to evaporate the refrigerant, mixing the heated mixture with additional refrigerant in a superheated phase, and atomizing the lubricating oil to disperse the lubricating oil within the refrigerant. The atomized lubricating oil and the refrigerant are passed through a decompressor to generate an electrical current. The refrigerant may be an organic material having a boiling point below about ?35 C. Related systems and heat engines are also disclosed.

Embodiments of the invention provide methods and apparatus for using a controllable heat source to generate electricity. One embodiment provides an energy generation module comprising a controllable heat source, one or more jackets of thermoelectric devices, and heat conducting fluids surrounding or otherwise thermally coupled to the jackets. The energy generation module can be used to convert heat from a heat source such as a gas combustion chamber into electricity. Embodiments of the invention are particularly useful for generating electricity when electrical power is not existent, cost prohibitive or otherwise in short supply. The generated electricity can be used by the user, stored in an electrical storage battery or sold to a local or remote power grid.

Embodiments of the invention provide methods and apparatus for using a controllable heat source to generate electricity. One embodiment provides an energy generation module comprising a controllable heat source, one or more jackets of thermoelectric devices, and heat conducting fluids surrounding or otherwise thermally coupled to the jackets. The energy generation module can be used to convert heat from a heat source such as a gas combustion chamber into electricity. Embodiments of the invention are particularly useful for generating electricity when electrical power is not existent, cost prohibitive or otherwise in short supply. The generated electricity can be used by the user, stored in an electrical storage battery or sold to a local or remote power grid.

A phase-shift-assisted gravity drive system is provided. The phase-shift-assisted gravity drive system has a series of repeating phase-shift chambers separated by inner baffles, wherein the series of repeating steam chambers define a circular loop about a hub. The phase-shift-assisted gravity drive system with the addition of a heat source is adapted to unidirectionally change steam from one phase-shift chamber to spraying condensation flowing into an adjacent phase-shift chamber. Thereby, the phase-shift-assisted gravity drive system generates force through this unidirectional transfer of the fluid throughout the loop of phase-shift chambers so that the loop rotates about its hub under the further influence of gravity, wherein the hub can be attached to a mechanism for applying rotation force thereto.

A system includes a waste heat recovery heat exchanger configured to heat a heating fluid stream by exchange with a heat source in a crude oil associated gas processing plant; and an Organic Rankine cycle energy conversion system. The Organic Rankine cycle energy conversion system includes a heat exchanger configured to heat a first portion of a working fluid by exchange with the heated heating fluid stream; and a cooling subsystem including one or more cooling elements each configured to cool one or more of a process stream from the crude oil associated gas processing plant and a cooling water stream for ambient air cooling by exchange with a second portion of the working fluid. The Organic Rankine cycle energy conversion system includes an ejector configured to receive the second portion of the working fluid from the cooling subsystem and a third portion of the working fluid; a turbine and a generator configured to generate power by expansion of a fourth portion of the working fluid; and a cooling element configured to cool a stream of working fluid including an output stream of working fluid from the ejector and the expanded fourth portion of the working fluid from the turbine and generator.

A system includes a waste heat recovery heat exchanger configured to heat a heating fluid stream by exchange with a heat source in a crude oil associated gas processing plant. The system includes an Organic Rankine cycle energy conversion system including a pump, an energy conversion heat exchanger configured to heat the working fluid by exchange with the heated heating fluid stream, a turbine and a generator configured to generate power by expansion of the heated working fluid, a cooling element configured to cool the expanded working fluid after power generation, and an accumulation tank. The heating fluid flows from the accumulation tank, through the waste heat recovery heat exchanger, through the Organic Rankine cycle energy conversion system, and back to the accumulation tank.

A system includes a waste heat recovery heat exchanger configured to heat a heating fluid stream by exchange with a heat source in a crude oil associated gas processing plant; and an Organic Rankine cycle energy conversion system. The Organic Rankine cycle energy conversion system includes a heat exchanger configured to heat a first portion of a working fluid by exchange with the heated heating fluid stream; and a cooling subsystem including one or more cooling elements each configured to cool one or more of a process stream from the crude oil associated gas processing plant and a cooling water stream for ambient air cooling by exchange with a second portion of the working fluid. The Organic Rankine cycle energy conversion system includes an ejector configured to receive the second portion of the working fluid from the cooling subsystem and a third portion of the working fluid; a turbine and a generator configured to generate power by expansion of a fourth portion of the working fluid; and a cooling element configured to cool a stream of working fluid including an output stream of working fluid from the ejector and the expanded fourth portion of the working fluid from the turbine and generator.

A system includes a waste heat recovery heat exchanger configured to heat a heating fluid stream by exchange with a heat source in a crude oil associated gas processing plant; and a modified Goswami energy conversion system. The modified Goswami energy conversion system includes a first group of heat exchangers configured to heat a first portion of a working fluid by exchange with the heated heating fluid stream; and a second group of heat exchangers configured to heat a second portion of the working fluid. The modified Goswami energy conversion system includes a rectifier configured to receive the heated first and second portions of the working fluid and a third portion of the working fluid and to output an overhead discharge stream and a liquid stream, the third portion of the working fluid being at a lower temperature than the heated first and second portions of the working fluid. The modified Goswami energy conversion system includes a cooling subsystem including one or more cooling elements configured to cool a chilling fluid stream by exchange with the overhead discharge stream; and a turbine configured to generate power from the liquid stream of the working fluid.

A system includes a waste heat recovery heat exchanger configured to heat a heating fluid stream by exchange with a heat source in a crude oil associated gas processing plant; and a modified Goswami energy conversion system. The modified Goswami energy conversion system includes a first group of heat exchangers configured to heat a first portion of a working fluid by exchange with the heated heating fluid stream; and a second group of heat exchangers configured to heat a second portion of the working fluid. The modified Goswami energy conversion system includes a rectifier configured to receive the heated first and second portions of the working fluid and a third portion of the working fluid and to output an overhead discharge stream and a liquid stream, the third portion of the working fluid being at a lower temperature than the heated first and second portions of the working fluid. The modified Goswami energy conversion system includes a cooling subsystem including one or more cooling elements configured to cool a chilling fluid stream by exchange with the overhead discharge stream; and a turbine configured to generate power from the liquid stream of the working fluid.

Embodiments of the invention provide methods and apparatus for using a controllable heat source to generate electricity. One embodiment provides an energy generation module comprising a controllable heat source, one or more jackets of thermoelectric devices, and heat conducting fluids surrounding or otherwise thermally coupled to the jackets. The energy generation module can be used to convert heat from a heat source such as a gas combustion chamber into electricity. Embodiments of the invention are particularly useful for generating electricity when electrical power is not existent, cost prohibitive or otherwise in short supply. The generated electricity can be used by the user, stored in an electrical storage battery or sold to a local or remote power grid.