The systems and methods of this disclosure control the flow rate of conditioned fluid at thermal distribution devices and at a conditioned fluid source that supplies conditioned fluid to the thermal distribution devices. The systems include multiple thermal distribution devices disposed throughout multiple rooms of a building, a fluid flow control device in fluid communication with each of the thermal distribution devices, multiple sensors disposed on each of the thermal distribution devices, a room temperature sensor disposed in each of the rooms, a first controller coupled to each of the fluid flow control devices, and a second controller coupled to a source of conditioned fluid. The first controllers control respective fluid flow control devices based on the measurement data obtained from the sensors and the room temperature sensors and a second controller controls the conditioned fluid source based on the demand for conditioned fluid by the thermal distribution devices.

The systems and methods of this disclosure control the flow rate of conditioned fluid at thermal distribution devices and at a conditioned fluid source that supplies conditioned fluid to the thermal distribution devices. The systems include multiple thermal distribution devices disposed throughout multiple rooms of a building, a fluid flow control device in fluid communication with each of the thermal distribution devices, multiple sensors disposed on each of the thermal distribution devices, a room temperature sensor disposed in each of the rooms, a first controller coupled to each of the fluid flow control devices, and a second controller coupled to a source of conditioned fluid. The first controllers control respective fluid flow control devices based on the measurement data obtained from the sensors and the room temperature sensors and a second controller controls the conditioned fluid source based on the demand for conditioned fluid by the thermal distribution devices.

A thermal power plant is described comprising a solar collector field and a heat storage to allow the use of the thermal energy collected by the solar field with a time delay for the production of electricity in the steam power plant.

A solar thermal power system includes a solar receiver, and a thermal energy storage arrangement having thermal energy storage fluid to be circulated through the solar receiver to store thermal energy. The system includes a multistage steam turbine operable on variable pressure steam generated by a steam generator arrangement, by utilizing the thermal energy storage fluid. The arrangement includes an economizer section, an evaporator section, and a superheater section communicably configured to utilize the heat of the hot thermal energy storage fluid to generate and supply the variable pressure steam to the turbine. The system includes a recirculation line configured around the economizer section to recirculate the heated water to an inlet of the economizer section, increasing pressure range of the variable pressure steam in the arrangement.

Systems and methods are disclosed that may include providing a dual fuel burner in a superheater truck to burn wellhead gas produced from a wellhead in a first fuel burner and burn at least one of methane, ethane, propane, butane, gasoline, diesel, liquified natural gas (LNG), natural gas liquids (NGLs), and wellhead gas in a second fuel burner to heat water and/or other chemicals used in hydrocarbon production and/or well completion processes, including, but not limited to hydraulic fracturing (fracking). The first fuel burner may be integrated with the second fuel burner such that fuel rail fingers of the first fuel burner are interstitially spaced with fuel rail fingers of the second fuel burner. The first fuel burner and the second fuel burner may be operated independently from each other. The first fuel burner and the second fuel burner may alternatively be operated simultaneously with each other.

Systems and methods are disclosed that may include providing a dual fuel burner in a superheater truck to burn wellhead gas produced from a wellhead in a first fuel burner and burn at least one of methane, ethane, propane, butane, gasoline, diesel, liquified natural gas (LNG), natural gas liquids (NGLs), and wellhead gas in a second fuel burner to heat water and/or other chemicals used in hydrocarbon production and/or well completion processes, including, but not limited to hydraulic fracturing (fracking). The first fuel burner may be integrated with the second fuel burner such that fuel rail fingers of the first fuel burner are interstitially spaced with fuel rail fingers of the second fuel burner. The first fuel burner and the second fuel burner may be operated independently from each other. The first fuel burner and the second fuel burner may alternatively be operated simultaneously with each other.

Systems and methods for selectively producing steam from solar collectors and heaters, for processes including enhanced oil recovery. A representative system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a water source, a solar collector that includes a collector inlet, a collector outlet, and a plurality of solar concentrators positioned to heat water passing from the collector inlet to the collector outlet, a fuel-fired heater, a steam outlet connected to an oil field injection well, and a water flow network coupled among the water source, the solar collector, the heater, and the steam outlet. The system can further include a controller operatively coupled to the water flow network and programmed with instructions that, when executed, direct at least one portion of the flow through the solar collector and the fuel-fired heater in a first sequence, and direct the at least one portion or a different portion of the flow through the solar collector and the fuel-fired heater in a second sequence different than the first sequence.

The present invention is related to using a plasmonic energy conversion device comprised of a non-permeable substrate and of a plurality of nanorods, either free standing or embedded in aluminum matrix, that utilizes plasmons to generate vapor from a fluid as a result of being exposed to radiation. Methods of manufacturing the plasmonic energy converter device are described.

A solar thermochemical processing system is disclosed. The system includes a first unit operation for receiving concentrated solar energy. Heat from the solar energy is used to drive the first unit operation. The first unit operation also receives a first set of reactants and produces a first set of products. A second unit operation receives the first set of products from the first unit operation and produces a second set of products. A third unit operation receives heat from the second unit operation to produce a portion of the first set of reactants.

The present invention describes a device for controlling cooling of a heat transfer solid supplying or withdrawing heat to or from a unit carrying out globally endothermic or exothermic reactions respectively. The exchange bundle of said device is in a triangular pattern.