A converting device arranged to transfer thermodynamic energy of a compressed working fluid into electrical energy. The converting unit is comprised of at least one cylinder which encloses a piston. In an embodiment, said at least one piston is provided with a magnetic portion. A ferromagnetic coil surrounds the piston and is integrated with the cylinder. As the piston moves through the coil, electrical energy is generated.

The invention relates to a thermodynamic energy converter (1) with at least one first and one second volume element (10a, 10b) for enclosing a working medium (102) inside a variable inner volume, including a wall that divides the inner volume into heat exchanger compartments (110, 120) and a working compartment (200), wherein a partition (230) is formed inside the working compartment (200) which divides the working compartment (200) into a working chamber (210) supplied with the working medium (201) and a force transmission chamber (212) supplied with a displacement fluid (202), the heat exchanger compartments (110, 120) and the working chamber (210) are interconnected such that the working medium (102) inside the volume element (10a, 10b) has the same pressure, and each heat exchanger compartment (110, 120) is connected to the working chamber (210) via an inlet and an outlet that is formed separately from the inlet. According to the invention, a respective inlet or outlet is designed, as a connection between the heat exchanger compartments (110, 120) and the working chamber (210), with at least one rotary valve (220) so as to prevent a flow through at least one of the heat exchanger compartments (110, 120) and to support a flow through at least one other heat exchanger compartment (110, 120).

The present invention is a system and method of power medium expansion that functions with a rate of efficiency higher than systems found in prior art. Novel features of the system increase the overall efficiency with the use of a power medium that begins the cycle in the liquid state and enters the gaseous state. An additional novel feature is the use of additional heat that may also increase the overall cycle efficiency. Another additional novel feature is recuperating energy that can supplement the phase change of the power medium along with isolating the components from the ambient.

A power generation system and method including a first heat exchanger, a first thermal engine, and a first power generator on a first working medium line L1 that circulates a first working medium W1, a second heat exchanger, a third working medium supply device that supplies a third working medium W3, and a mixing device for mixing a second working medium W2 and the third working medium. A second thermal engine, and a second power generator are included on a second working medium line L2 that circulates the second working medium. On both of a downstream side of the first thermal engine on the first working medium line and a downstream side of the second thermal engine on the second working medium line, a third heat exchanger is included. Also included is a third working medium discharge device for discharging the third working medium to the third heat exchanger.

A power generation system and method including a first heat exchanger, a first thermal engine, and a first power generator on a first working medium line L1 that circulates a first working medium W1, a second heat exchanger, a third working medium supply device that supplies a third working medium W3, and a mixing device for mixing a second working medium W2 and the third working medium. A second thermal engine, and a second power generator are included on a second working medium line L2 that circulates the second working medium. On both of a downstream side of the first thermal engine on the first working medium line and a downstream side of the second thermal engine on the second working medium line, a third heat exchanger is included. Also included is a third working medium discharge device for discharging the third working medium to the third heat exchanger.

An integrated system that comprises a solar power subsystem, an absorption refrigeration subsystem to provide a cooling effect, a desalination subsystem to produce freshwater, an expander to generate shaft work and electricity, and also a reverse osmosis desalination subsystem to further produce freshwater, wherein the absorption refrigeration subsystem, the desalination subsystem, the expander, and the reverse osmosis desalination subsystem are powered by a solar energy that is supplied by the solar power subsystem.

An integrated system that comprises a solar power subsystem, an absorption refrigeration subsystem to provide a cooling effect, a desalination subsystem to produce freshwater, an expander to generate shaft work and electricity, and also a reverse osmosis desalination subsystem to further produce freshwater, wherein the absorption refrigeration subsystem, the desalination subsystem, the expander, and the reverse osmosis desalination subsystem are powered by a solar energy that is supplied by the solar power subsystem.

System for quantum energy storage can include a quantum information engine including topological insulator having at least one edge. A coherence capacitor can include nuclei of atoms within the topological insulator, and each nucleus can have a spin direction. An energy source can be electrically connected to the topological insulator and configured to supply a current along the at least one edge of the topological insulator. The current can interact with at least one nucleus of the nuclei to flip a spin direction of the at least one nucleus. Methods for quantum energy storage, systems and methods for storing and using quantum energy, quantum information engines, and quantum heat engines are also disclosed.

System for quantum energy storage can include a quantum information engine including topological insulator having at least one edge. A coherence capacitor can include nuclei of atoms within the topological insulator, and each nucleus can have a spin direction. An energy source can be electrically connected to the topological insulator and configured to supply a current along the at least one edge of the topological insulator. The current can interact with at least one nucleus of the nuclei to flip a spin direction of the at least one nucleus. Methods for quantum energy storage, systems and methods for storing and using quantum energy, quantum information engines, and quantum heat engines are also disclosed.

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.