The invention relates to a piston type expander (4) comprising: an intake cylinder head for a working fluid in the gaseous state under pressure comprising an intake opening (40) for said working fluid, an expansion zone connected to the intake cylinder head and comprising a plurality of cylinders, wherein a piston sliding in each respective cylinder is connected to a shaft (42) by a mechanical connection, each cylinder comprising at least one exhaust port (12) through which the expanded working fluid in the gaseous state can be discharged from the expansion zone, a crankcase (17) designed to contain a lubricant in the liquid state, wherein is positioned said mechanical connection, a cavity provided in the expander (4), connected to said exhaust ports, leading to an exhaust opening (41) of the expander for the expanded working fluid in the gaseous state, said cavity being designed to guide a flow of the expanded working fluid bearing a fraction of lubricant in the liquid state, said cavity (43) having a common wall with the crankcase (17) and being designed to favor the separation of the liquid lubricant fraction from the expanded working fluid in the gaseous state.

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for low temperature waste heat utilization. In the scope of the cogeneration unit (CHP) there are few low temperature sources, which cannot be used by heat consumer (HC) directly. Hence, the method and apparatus for cogeneration power plant waste heat recovery comprise at least one, preferably condensing type heat exchanger (HE2), which collects the waste heat for water source high temperature heat pump (HP) employment, wherein its hot water outlet is fed to the internal combustion engine (ICE) cooling system, i.e. cooling jacket type heat exchanger, wherein the maximum allowed coolant inlet temperature is achieved and maintained by automated control system (i.e. control unit with motorized control valves (V1-V3)). It is important to notice, that low temperature sources are herein represented by the exhaust gas in the scope of exhaust system, the charging air in the scope of the intercooler or turbo-supercharger, and lubrication oil cooling system in the scope of internal combustion engine (ICE) or heat pump (HP).

An improved efficiency method and device for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy, and then, preferably, into electricity and/or refrigerating energy. A partially liquid stream f.sup.c0 of fluid FC is implemented; thermal energy is transferred to the stream f.sup.c0; the heated stream f.sup.c0 is sprayed to generate a fragmented stream f.sup.c1 of fluid FC. Simultaneously a partially liquid stream f.sub.t0 of fluid FT is implemented; thermal energy is transferred to the stream f.sup.t0 to generate a stream f.sup.t that may be in liquid form or a saturated liquid/vapor mixture; stream f.sup.1 is expanded in a chamber which also receives fragmented stream f.sup.c1 to form a two-phase mixed stream f.sup.c1/t whose kinetic energy is converted into mechanical energy which is optionally transformed into electrical energy or into refrigerating energy.

An improved efficiency method and device for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy, and then, preferably, into electricity and/or refrigerating energy. A partially liquid stream f.sup.c0 of fluid FC is implemented; thermal energy is transferred to the stream f.sup.c0; the heated stream f.sup.c0 is sprayed to generate a fragmented stream f.sup.c1 of fluid FC. Simultaneously a partially liquid stream f.sub.t0 of fluid FT is implemented; thermal energy is transferred to the stream f.sup.t0 to generate a stream f.sup.t that may be in liquid form or a saturated liquid/vapor mixture; stream f.sup.1 is expanded in a chamber which also receives fragmented stream f.sup.c1 to form a two-phase mixed stream f.sup.c1/t whose kinetic energy is converted into mechanical energy which is optionally transformed into electrical energy or into refrigerating energy.

Filter assemblies and components therefor, are described. In an example arrangement, the crankcase ventilation filter assembly is configured to be serviced from either the top or the bottom. A rotational indexing arrangement is to ensure appropriate orientation of an internally received filter cartridge, and other components of the arrangement are provided. Methods of assembly, servicing and use are described.

A geothermal heat recovery device includes a circulation flow path provided with a circulation pump, a heat medium pressurized by the circulation pump circulating through the circulation flow path in a hot liquid state; a heat exchanger installed underground and configured to heat the heat medium flowing through the circulation flow path with underground heat; a binary electricity generation device configured to recover, as electrical energy, thermal energy from the heat medium heated in the heat exchanger; a bypass path connected to the circulation flow path; and an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a flow division ratio between a flow rate of the heat medium flowing into the heat exchanger and a flow rate of the heat medium bypassing the heat exchanger through the bypass path.

A geothermal heat recovery device includes a circulation flow path provided with a circulation pump, a heat medium pressurized by the circulation pump circulating through the circulation flow path in a hot liquid state; a heat exchanger installed underground and configured to heat the heat medium flowing through the circulation flow path with underground heat; a binary electricity generation device configured to recover, as electrical energy, thermal energy from the heat medium heated in the heat exchanger; a bypass path connected to the circulation flow path; and an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a flow division ratio between a flow rate of the heat medium flowing into the heat exchanger and a flow rate of the heat medium bypassing the heat exchanger through the bypass path.

A combined cycle power plant feedwater system includes: a feed pump which supplies feedwater to a heat recovery steam generator; a first pipe which extracts part of the feedwater from a flow path in mid-course of pressurization of the feed pump; a first boiler supplied with the feedwater led into the first pipe and subjected to first water treatment; a second pipe where the feedwater discharged from a feed pump outlet flows; a second boiler supplied with the feedwater led into the second pipe and subjected to second water treatment more downstream than the flow path in mid-course of the pressurization; and a water-treating substance supply device which supplies a water-treating substance for the second water treatment to the feedwater flow path in the feed pump, at a position more downstream than a connection position of the first pipe and more upstream than a connection position of the second pipe.

A method for generating electricity and cold and a device for realizing same, consists in a closed absorption cycle in which a working body is a mixture of a low-boiling (refrigerant) component and a high-boiling (absorbent) component. The method involves evaporating a strong solution in a steam generator, thus forming a refrigerant vapor and a weak solution, expanding the refrigerant vapor in a turbine, thus producing work, and, after the turbine, absorbing spent vapor in an absorber, forming a strong solution. A distinguishing feature of the method consists in changing the concentration of a strong solution using two stages, including not only evaporation but also filtration. The proposed method and device allow for significantly increasing the efficiency of systems for generating electricity relative to analogous known methods.

A method for generating electricity and cold and a device for realizing same, consists in a closed absorption cycle in which a working body is a mixture of a low-boiling (refrigerant) component and a high-boiling (absorbent) component. The method involves evaporating a strong solution in a steam generator, thus forming a refrigerant vapor and a weak solution, expanding the refrigerant vapor in a turbine, thus producing work, and, after the turbine, absorbing spent vapor in an absorber, forming a strong solution. A distinguishing feature of the method consists in changing the concentration of a strong solution using two stages, including not only evaporation but also filtration. The proposed method and device allow for significantly increasing the efficiency of systems for generating electricity relative to analogous known methods.