Solar/Rankine steam cycle hybrid concentrating solar power (CSP) systems and methods for designing or retrofitting existent natural circulation boilers using saturated or superheated steam produced by direct steam generation (DSG) or Heat Transfer Fluid (HTF) steam generators and CSP solar field technology systems are described. Additionally, methods and processes of retrofitting the existent Heat Recovery Steam Generators (HRSG) or biomass, gas, oil or coal fired boilers to operate integrated to a molten salt/water-steam heat exchangers are disclosed. The hybrid CSP systems are highly efficient due to the increase of steam generated by a heating section comprising either the DSG receiver or the molten salt-water-steam sequential heat exchangers, heaters, boiler/saturated steam generators, super-heaters and re-heaters. The additional saturated, superheated and reheated steam produced is directed to a Rankine cycle according to its pressure, temperature and steam quality significantly reducing the fuel consumption within a cogeneration or Combine Cycle Power Plant.

The invention provides circular processes using siloxanes as high-temperature heat transfer fluid (HTF), wherein the siloxanes go over from the state of the supercooled liquid into the state of the high-density supercritical fluid by means of heat uptake without a phase transition and energy is then transferred as energy without a phase transition.

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.

Systems and methods relating to use of external air for inventory control of a closed thermodynamic cycle system or energy storage system, such as a reversible Brayton cycle system, are disclosed. A method may involve, in a closed cycle system operating in a power generation mode, circulating a working fluid may through a closed cycle fluid path. The closed cycle fluid path may include a high pressure leg and a low pressure leg. The method may further involve in response to a demand for increased power generation, compressing and dehumidifying environmental air. And the method may involve injecting the compressed and dehumidified environmental air into the low pressure leg.

Extra heat in a closed cycle power generation system, such as a reversible closed Brayton cycle system, may be dissipated between discharge and charge cycles. An extra cooling heat exchanger may be added on the discharge cycle and disposed between a cold side heat exchanger and a compressor inlet. Additionally or alternatively, a cold thermal storage medium passing through the cold side heat exchanger may be allowed to heat up to a higher temperature during the discharge cycle than is needed on input to the charge cycle and the excess heat then dissipated to the atmosphere.

A special solar energy water jacket heating furnace in vacuum mode for an oil field comprises a vacuum heating system and a water jacket furnace heating system; the vacuum heating system comprises a steam generator, a vacuum heater and an ejector; the water jacket furnace heating system comprises a water jacket furnace, a burner, a flue gas chamber, a U-shaped pipe and a chimney, the flue gas chamber and the U-shaped pipe are arranged inside the water jacket furnace, and an inlet and an outlet of the flue gas chamber are respectively connected with the burner and the chimney through flue gas pipes; and the vacuum heater is provided with a crude oil inlet and a crude oil outlet, the steam generator is provided with a first outlet and the first outlet is connected with the ejector. A method for heating crude oil is further disclosed.

An apparatus including a boiler configured to receive water, sodium hydroxide, and aluminum. A generator adjacent to the boiler and configured to generate electricity based on heat received from the boiler. A hydrogen capture system coupled with the boiler and configured to capture hydrogen from the boiler. A fuel cell communicatively coupled with the hydrogen capture system and configured to receive at least a portion of the hydrogen from the hydrogen capture system to generate electricity. A transformer electrically coupled with the generator and the fuel cell.

An apparatus including a boiler configured to receive water, sodium hydroxide, and aluminum. A generator adjacent to the boiler and configured to generate electricity based on heat received from the boiler. A hydrogen capture system coupled with the boiler and configured to capture hydrogen from the boiler. A fuel cell communicatively coupled with the hydrogen capture system and configured to receive at least a portion of the hydrogen from the hydrogen capture system to generate electricity. A transformer electrically coupled with the generator and the fuel cell.

Systems and methods for variable pressure inventory control of a closed thermodynamic cycle power generation system or energy storage system, such as a reversible Brayton cycle system, with at least a high pressure tank and an intermediate pressure tank are disclosed. Operational parameters of the system such as working fluid pressure, turbine torque, turbine RPM, generator torque, generator RPM, and current, voltage, phase, frequency, and/or quantity of electrical power generated and/or distributed by the generator may be the basis for controlling a quantity of working fluid that circulates through a closed cycle fluid path of the system.

A combustion system with surface-less heat energy exchange for efficient heat energy capture and lower pollutant emission, comprising: a first line feeding an oxygen-rich reactive; a second line feeding a hydro-carbon fuel; a vessel containing feed-water;

a combustion enclosure without a bottom wall submersed into the feed water contained in a vessel, the combustion enclosure configured to receive the feed from each of the first and second line and combust a mixture of the two feeds in a pocket formed between an inner top and side walls of the combustion enclosure and a top surface of the feed-water contained in the vessel; and the combustion within the pocket yielding a high temperature and pressure combustion product and by-product directly into the feed-water of the vessel.