Thermocline arrays comprising a plurality of pressure vessels that are in used in place of heat exchangers in a closed thermodynamic cycle system, such as a closed Brayton cycle power generation or energy storage system. Each pressure vessel is configurable to be connected to the working fluid stream or isolated from the working fluid stream.

An apparatus for production of steam from an aqueous liquid includes (a) a solar panel with a pliable, essentially impermeable, polymer membrane having an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the outer surface is adapted to be directed towards the sun; a lattice structure adapted to support the inner surface of the polymer membrane; a backing, which together with the pliable polymer film, encases the lattice structure; an inlet for the aqueous liquid; an outlet for the steam produced, and (b) means for providing a vacuum connected to the outlet. The apparatus can be produced with few and relatively simple components thereby reducing the cost of the apparatus.

A power plant is suggested with an additional heat transfer between the flue gas that flows through a flue gas line (5) and the feed-water in a feed-water line (19). The claimed arrangement of the first heat exchanger (13) upstream and adjacent to a precipitator (7) leads to a reduced space demand and optimizes dust precipitation as well as the pressure drop of the flue gas.

A power plant is suggested with an additional heat transfer between the flue gas that flows through a flue gas line (5) and the feed-water in a feed-water line (19). The claimed arrangement of the first heat exchanger (13) upstream and adjacent to a precipitator (7) leads to a reduced space demand and optimizes dust precipitation as well as the pressure drop of the flue gas.

A solar thermal power generation system includes a solar heat collection system that generates superheated steam by solar heat, a main power generation system that performs power generation by part of the superheated steam generated by the solar heat collection system, a solar heat storage/release system that stores heat in a heat storage medium or releases the heat stored in the heat storage medium, and a secondary power generation system that performs power generation by saturated steam generated by the heat storage or the heat release in the solar heat storage/release system. The solar heat storage/release system includes a heat storage heater for exchanging heat between the rest of the superheated steam generated by the solar heat collection system and the heat storage medium to store heat in the heat storage medium and to generate saturated steam, a low-temperature tank for containing the heat storage medium to be supplied to the heat storage heater, and a high-temperature tank for containing the heat storage medium after the heat storage in the heat storage heater. The secondary power generation system includes a saturated steam turbine into which the saturated steam generated by the heat storage heater can be introduced.

In an externally integrated once-through steam generator type small modular reactor, a steam generator is arranged along the circumference of a reactor vessel, and secondary cooling water flows in heat transfer tubes and changes to superheated steam. The small modular reactor includes: a nuclear reactor including a hemispherical upper head, the reactor vessel cylindrical shell coupled to the upper head and extending downward from the upper head in a cylindrical shape, and a hemispherical lower head provided on a lower portion of the reactor vessel cylindrical shell, wherein a core is placed in the nuclear reactor; the steam generator surrounding all around the reactor vessel cylindrical shell, the steam generator including a first penetration hole communicating with an inside of the nuclear reactor and a second penetration hole separate from the first penetration hole and communicating with the inside of the nuclear reactor.

In an externally integrated once-through steam generator type small modular reactor, a steam generator is arranged along the circumference of a reactor vessel, and secondary cooling water flows in heat transfer tubes and changes to superheated steam. The small modular reactor includes: a nuclear reactor including a hemispherical upper head, the reactor vessel cylindrical shell coupled to the upper head and extending downward from the upper head in a cylindrical shape, and a hemispherical lower head provided on a lower portion of the reactor vessel cylindrical shell, wherein a core is placed in the nuclear reactor; the steam generator surrounding all around the reactor vessel cylindrical shell, the steam generator including a first penetration hole communicating with an inside of the nuclear reactor and a second penetration hole separate from the first penetration hole and communicating with the inside of the nuclear reactor.

A grill accessory creates a steaming chamber on a grill that has a heat source and a rack of spaced-apart bars over the heat source. The grill accessory includes a cover configured that covers a food item and forms a steaming region below the cover. The cover operates in connection with a vapor generator that receives and holds fluid beneath the cover. The vapor generator has at least one vent opening to release steam into the steaming chamber. The grill accessory is configured so that it can rest upon the grill rack of spaced-apart bars, and so that the vapor generator transmits heat to the fluid in the vapor generator to convert the fluid to steam. The vapor generator releases the steam through the vent opening(s) into the steaming region below the cover. The steam can help melt toppings and/or introduce moisture into food items cooked on the grill.

A grill accessory creates a steaming chamber on a grill that has a heat source and a rack of spaced-apart bars over the heat source. The grill accessory includes a cover configured that covers a food item and forms a steaming region below the cover. The cover operates in connection with a vapor generator that receives and holds fluid beneath the cover. The vapor generator has at least one vent opening to release steam into the steaming chamber. The grill accessory is configured so that it can rest upon the grill rack of spaced-apart bars, and so that the vapor generator transmits heat to the fluid in the vapor generator to convert the fluid to steam. The vapor generator releases the steam through the vent opening(s) into the steaming region below the cover. The steam can help melt toppings and/or introduce moisture into food items cooked on the grill.

A localized heating structure includes a spectrally-selective solar absorber, that absorbs incident solar radiation and reflects at wavelengths longer than 2 m, with an underlying heat-spreading layer having a thermal conductivity equal to or greater than 50 W/(mK), a thermally insulating layer, adjacent to the spectrally-selective solar absorber, having a thermal conductivity of less than 0.1 W/(mK), one or more evaporation openings through the spectrally-selective solar absorber and the thermally insulating layer, and an evaporation wick, disposed in one or more of the evaporation openings in the thermally insulating layer, that contacts liquid and allows the liquid to be transported from a location beneath the thermally insulating layer through to the spectrally-selective solar absorber in order to generate vapor from the liquid. The thermally insulating layer is configured to have a density less than the liquid so that the localized heating structure is able to float on the liquid.