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 hydrogen 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.

A power plant having a steam circuit which can be supplied, in the region of a heat recovery steam generator, with thermal energy for producing steam, the steam circuit has, in the region of the heat recovery steam generator, a high pressure part, a medium pressure part and a low pressure part. In addition, a heat reservoir which has a phase change material and which is not situated in the region of the heat recovery steam generator is included, wherein, in order to supply the heat reservoir with thermally processed water, a supply line which leads out from the high pressure part or the medium pressure part is included and a discharge line which leads into the medium pressure part, the low pressure part or a steam turbine is included for discharging thermally processed water from the heat reservoir.

A dry-cooling system useful in absorbing heat from a heat source and related dry cooling methods including a depolymerization cooling unit (DCU) in fluid communication with a polymerization heating unit (PHU). The DCU includes a DCU heat exchanger which receives a polymer and a catalyst, wherein contact of the polymer and the catalyst within the DCU heat exchanger causes an endothermic reaction, converting the polymer to a monomer and drawing heat from a first heat source. The monomer is then withdrawn from the DCU. The PHU includes a PHU heat exchanger, which receives the monomer, wherein contact of the monomer with the catalyst causes an exothermic reaction within the PHU heat exchanger, converting the monomer to the polymer. The polymer is then withdrawn from the PHU for conveyance back to the DCU, and the cycle is repeated.

System and method of operating the system. The system having a heat pump cycle, a turbine cycle, a medium storage cycle and a water storage cycle. By way of the heat pump cycle, heat of a working fluid can be transferred to a thermal medium (M) for storing thermal energy. By way of the turbine cycle, heat of the thermal medium (M) can be transferred to a working fluid (F). In so doing electric energy can be converted into thermal energy or transferred from thermal energy into electric energy by operating either the heat pump cycle or the turbine cycle. The thermal coupling between the water storage cycle and the heat pump cycle is provided by a water-to-fluid heat exchanger and the thermal coupling between the water storage cycle and the turbine cycle is provided by a fluid-to-water heat exchanger. The water storage cycle additionally contains an air-cooled water-cooling unit that can be operated independent from the water-to-fluid heat exchanger.

A steam reciprocating piston engine that uses a pressurized working fluid to drive first and second pistons in reciprocating power strokes is disclosed. A piston is configured for reciprocating motion within the cylinder and traverses between bottom dead center and top dead center positions. An uppermost stop is reached wherein the working fluid is allowed to escape the cylinder through one or more exhaust ports whereby the fluid travels through a closed loop circuit ultimately directing pressurized fluid back into the cylinder inlet. Momentum causes a spring connected mass to continue upward maintaining the piston above the exhaust port so as to allow escape of the working fluid. Return of the piston and mass is caused by opposite movement of a second piston whereby another stroke is initiated. Power output may be transferred to any suitable system.

Apparatus for heat storage, comprises a working fluid chamber for storing working fluid; a pressure support chamber coupled to the working fluid chamber and including pressure support material, said pressure support chamber for increasing pressure in said working fluid chamber responsive to compression of said pressure support chamber; a fluid pump for pumping working fluid into the working fluid chamber, wherein pumping fluid into the working fluid chamber increases pressure of said working fluid in the working fluid chamber; the pressure elevation of the working fluid in the fluid chamber is responsive to pumping the fluid back into the fluid chamber to compress the pressure support chamber; a working fluid chamber heat exchanger for varying temperature in said working fluid chamber; an output conduit for transferring working fluid from said fluid chamber to a utilization destination; and an input conduit for transferring said working fluid received from said utilization destination to said working fluid into the fluid chamber.

The present invention is a device and method for controlling a closed loop (10) working on a Rankine cycle comprising a compression and circulation pump (12) for the liquid fluid, a heat exchanger (20) swept by a hot source (C) for evaporation of the fluid, expansion device (32) for the fluid in vapor form, a cooling exchange (44) swept by a cold source (F) for condensing the working fluid, a working fluid receiving tank (50) and working fluid circulation lines (60, 62, 64, 66, 68). The tank (50) is connected to a pressure regulating system (52, 54).

A method including: (i) operating a pumped-heat energy storage system (PHES system) in a charge mode to convert electricity into stored thermal energy in a hot thermal storage medium (HTS medium) by transferring heat from a working fluid to a warm HTS medium, resulting in a hot HTS medium, wherein the PHES system is further operable in a generation mode to convert at least a portion of the stored thermal energy into electricity; and (ii) heating the hot HTS medium with an electric heater above a temperature achievable by transferring heat from the working fluid to the warm HTS medium.

A system and method for providing dry cooling of a coolant in a directed energy system, having a plurality of heat exchangers which depolymerize and polymerize a polymer. Specifically, the depolymerization process is endothermic and draws heat from a source liquid in a first heat exchanger, and the polymerization process is exothermic and expels heat from a second heat exchanger. Additional heat exchangers and holding tanks may be incorporated in the system and method. Pumps having adjustable volumetric flow may be incorporated and provide customized cooling and energy draw.

A dry-cooling system useful in absorbing heat from a heat source and related dry cooling methods including a depolymerization cooling unit (DCU) in fluid communication with a polymerization heating unit (PHU). The DCU includes a DCU heat exchanger which receives a polymer and a catalyst, wherein contact of the polymer and the catalyst within the DCU heat exchanger causes an endothermic reaction, converting the polymer to a monomer and drawing heat from a first heat source. The monomer is then withdrawn from the DCU. The PHU includes a PHU heat exchanger, which receives the monomer, wherein contact of the monomer with the catalyst causes an exothermic reaction within the PHU heat exchanger, converting the monomer to the polymer. The polymer is then withdrawn from the PHU for conveyance back to the DCU, and the cycle is repeated.