Systems and methods are provided for the recovery mechanical power from heat energy sources using a common working fluid comprising, in some embodiments, an organic refrigerant flowing through multiple heat exchangers and expanders. The distribution of heat energy from the source may be portioned, distributed, and communicated to each of the heat exchangers so as to permit utilization of up to all available heat energy. In some embodiments, the system utilizes up to and including all of the available heat energy from the source. The expanders may be operatively coupled to one or more generators that convert the mechanical energy of the expansion process into electrical energy, or the mechanical energy may be communicated to other devices to perform work.

Systems and methods are provided for the recovery mechanical power from heat energy sources using a common working fluid comprising, in some embodiments, an organic refrigerant flowing through multiple heat exchangers and expanders. The distribution of heat energy from the source may be portioned, distributed, and communicated to each of the heat exchangers so as to permit utilization of up to all available heat energy. In some embodiments, the system utilizes up to and including all of the available heat energy from the source. The expanders may be operatively coupled to one or more generators that convert the mechanical energy of the expansion process into electrical energy, or the mechanical energy may be communicated to other devices to perform work.

A system includes a hybrid power plant controller programmed to receive a plurality of signals representative of one or more operating parameters of a hybrid power plant. The hybrid power plant includes at least one gas turbine engine, at least one gas engine, and at least one catalyst system. The hybrid power plant controller is programmed to utilize closed-loop optimal control to generate one or more operational setpoints based on the one or more operating parameters for the hybrid power plant to optimize performance of the hybrid power plant. The hybrid power plant controller uses closed-loop optimal control to provide the one or more operational setpoints to respective controllers of the at least one gas turbine engine, the at least one gas engine, and the at least one catalyst system to control operation of the gas turbine engine, the gas engine, and the catalyst system.

A hybrid power generation system using a supercritical CO.sub.2 cycle includes a steam power generation unit including a plurality of turbines driven with steam heated using heat generated by a boiler to produce electric power, and a supercritical CO.sub.2 power generation unit including an SCO.sub.2 heater for heating a supercritical CO.sub.2 fluid, a turbine driven by the supercritical CO.sub.2 fluid, a precooler for lowering a temperature of the supercritical CO.sub.2 fluid passing through the turbine, and a main compressor for pressurizing the supercritical CO.sub.2 fluid, so as to produce electric power. The steam power generation unit and the supercritical CO.sub.2 power generation unit share the boiler. The hybrid power generation system may improve both the power generation efficiencies of the steam cycle and the supercritical CO.sub.2 cycle by interconnecting the steam cycle and the supercritical CO.sub.2 cycle.

A hybrid power generation system using a supercritical CO.sub.2 cycle includes a steam power generation unit including a plurality of turbines driven with steam heated using heat generated by a boiler to produce electric power, and a supercritical CO.sub.2 power generation unit including an SCO.sub.2 heater for heating a supercritical CO.sub.2 fluid, a turbine driven by the supercritical CO.sub.2 fluid, a precooler for lowering a temperature of the supercritical CO.sub.2 fluid passing through the turbine, and a main compressor for pressurizing the supercritical CO.sub.2 fluid, so as to produce electric power. The steam power generation unit and the supercritical CO.sub.2 power generation unit share the boiler. The hybrid power generation system may improve both the power generation efficiencies of the steam cycle and the supercritical CO.sub.2 cycle by interconnecting the steam cycle and the supercritical CO.sub.2 cycle.

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.

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.

A Rankine cycle waste heat recovery system associated with an internal combustion engine is in a configuration that enables handling of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) gas by using the energy recovered from a Rankine cycle waste heat recovery system. The system includes a control module for regulating various function of the internal combustion engine and its associated systems along with the Rankine cycle waste heat recovery system.

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.

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.