A system includes a waste heat recovery heat exchanger configured to heat a heating fluid stream by exchange with a heat source in a crude oil associated gas processing plant; and a modified Goswami energy conversion system. The modified Goswami energy conversion system includes a first group of heat exchangers configured to heat a first portion of a working fluid by exchange with the heated heating fluid stream; and a second group of heat exchangers configured to heat a second portion of the working fluid. The modified Goswami energy conversion system includes a rectifier configured to receive the heated first and second portions of the working fluid and a third portion of the working fluid and to output an overhead discharge stream and a liquid stream, the third portion of the working fluid being at a lower temperature than the heated first and second portions of the working fluid. The modified Goswami energy conversion system includes a cooling subsystem including one or more cooling elements configured to cool a chilling fluid stream by exchange with the overhead discharge stream; and a turbine configured to generate power from the liquid stream of the working fluid.

A method and system using at least two different working fluids to be supplied to an expander to cause it to do mechanical work. The expander is started by providing a compressed gaseous working fluid at a sufficient pressure to the expander. At the same time the compressed gaseous working fluid is provided to the expander, a second working fluid that is liquid at ambient temperatures is provided to a heater to be heated. The second working fluid is heated to its boiling point and converted to pressurized gas Once the pressure is increased to a sufficient level, the second working fluid is injected into the expander to generate power, and the supply of the first working fluid may be stopped. After expansion in the expander, the working fluids are is exhausted from the expander, and the second working fluid may be condensed for separation from the first working fluid. Control circuitry controls the admission of the first and second working fluids responsive to monitoring the load on the expander. Waste heat in the exhaust from the expander can be used to heat or alternatively to dry an element in a device that can be operated as a desiccator to dry air when operated in a summer mode, or to heat air when operated in a winter mode. The air having been dried or alternatively heated is then ducted to an evaporative cooler which cools the dried air in summer mode and humidifies the heated air in winter mode.

A system includes a waste heat recovery heat exchanger configured to heat a heating fluid stream by exchange with a heat source in a crude oil associated gas processing plant; and an Organic Rankine cycle energy conversion system. The Organic Rankine cycle energy conversion system includes a heat exchanger configured to heat a first portion of a working fluid by exchange with the heated heating fluid stream; and a cooling subsystem including one or more cooling elements each configured to cool one or more of a process stream from the crude oil associated gas processing plant and a cooling water stream for ambient air cooling by exchange with a second portion of the working fluid. The Organic Rankine cycle energy conversion system includes an ejector configured to receive the second portion of the working fluid from the cooling subsystem and a third portion of the working fluid; a turbine and a generator configured to generate power by expansion of a fourth portion of the working fluid; and a cooling element configured to cool a stream of working fluid including an output stream of working fluid from the ejector and the expanded fourth portion of the working fluid from the turbine and generator.

A steam power plant and method for operation the steam power plant is provided, that comprises: a main water-steam-cycle with a high pressure (HP) steam turbine, an intermediate pressure (IP) steam turbine and a low pressure (LP) steam turbine, a condenser, and a feed water tank, wherein low pressure heaters are arranged between said condenser and said feed water tank and wherein a plurality of high pressure heaters are arranged downstream of said feed water tank, whereby said low pressure heaters, said feed water tank and said plurality of high pressure heaters are supplied with steam from a plurality of extractions at said steam turbines.

A multi-stage expansion device having bypass capabilities and a variable speed drive is disclosed. In one example, the multi-stage expansion device has a housing within which a first stage, a second stage, and a third stage are housed. The housing may also be configured with internal working fluid passageways to direct a working fluid from the first stage to the second stage and/or from the second stage to the third stage. Each of the stages may include a pair of non-contacting rotors that are mechanically connected to each other and to a power output device such that energy extracted from the working fluid is converted to mechanical work at the output device. In one example, a bypass line is provided to bypass working fluid around the first stage and a bypass line is provided to bypass working fluid around the second stage.

A method and system using at least two different working fluids to be supplied to an expander to cause it to do mechanical work. The expander is started by providing a compressed gaseous working fluid at a sufficient pressure to the expander. At the same time the compressed gaseous working fluid is provided to the expander, a second working fluid that is liquid at ambient temperatures is provided to a heater to be heated. The second working fluid is heated to its boiling point and converted to pressurized gas Once the pressure is increased to a sufficient level, the second working fluid is injected into the expander to generate power, and the supply of the first working fluid may be stopped. After expansion in the expander, the working fluids are is exhausted from the expander, and the second working fluid may be condensed for separation from the first working fluid. Control circuitry controls the admission of the first and second working fluids responsive to monitoring the load on the expander.

Waste heat in the exhaust from the expander can be used to heat or alternatively to dry an element in a device that can be operated as a desiccator to dry air when operated in a summer mode, or to heat air when operated in a winter mode. The air having been dried or alternatively heated is then ducted to an evaporative cooler which cools the dried air in summer mode and humidifies the heated air in winter mode.

A novel Rankine cycle system configured to convert waste heat into mechanical and/or electrical energy is provided. The system provided by the present invention comprises a novel configuration of the components of a conventional Rankine cycle system; conduits, ducts, heaters, expanders, heat exchangers, condensers and pumps to provide more efficient energy recovery from a waste heat source. In one aspect, the Rankine cycle system is configured such that three distinct condensed working fluid streams are employed at various stages in the waste heat recovery cycle. A first condensed working fluid stream is vaporized by an expanded first vaporized working fluid stream, a second condensed working fluid stream absorbs heat from an expanded second vaporized working fluid stream, and a third condensed working fluid stream removes heat directly from a waste heat-containing stream. The Rankine cycle system is adapted for the use of supercritical carbon dioxide as the working fluid.

A novel Rankine cycle system configured to convert waste heat into mechanical and/or electrical energy is provided. The system provided by the present invention comprises a novel configuration of the components of a conventional Rankine cycle system; conduits, ducts, heaters, expanders, heat exchangers, condensers and pumps to provide more efficient energy recovery from a waste heat source. In one aspect, the Rankine cycle system is configured such that three distinct condensed working fluid streams are employed at various stages in the waste heat recovery cycle. A first condensed working fluid stream is vaporized by an expanded first vaporized working fluid stream, a second condensed working fluid stream absorbs heat from an expanded second vaporized working fluid stream, and a third condensed working fluid stream removes heat directly from a waste heat-containing stream. The Rankine cycle system is adapted for the use of supercritical carbon dioxide as the working fluid.

A novel Rankine cycle system configured to convert waste heat into mechanical and/or electrical energy is provided. In one aspect, the system provided by the present invention comprises a novel configuration of the components of a conventional Rankine cycle system; conduits, ducts, heaters, expanders, heat exchangers, condensers and pumps to provide more efficient energy recovery from a waste heat source. In one aspect, the Rankine cycle system is configured such that an initial waste heat-containing stream is employed to vaporize a first working fluid stream, and a resultant heat depleted waste heat-containing stream and a first portion of an expanded second vaporized working fluid stream are employed to augment heat provided by an expanded first vaporized working fluid stream in the production of a second vaporized working fluid stream. The Rankine cycle system is adapted for the use of supercritical carbon dioxide as the working fluid.

A novel Rankine cycle system configured to convert waste heat into mechanical and/or electrical energy is provided. In one aspect, the system provided by the present invention comprises a novel configuration of the components of a conventional Rankine cycle system; conduits, ducts, heaters, expanders, heat exchangers, condensers and pumps to provide more efficient energy recovery from a waste heat source. In one aspect, the Rankine cycle system is configured such that an initial waste heat-containing stream is employed to vaporize a first working fluid stream, and a resultant heat depleted waste heat-containing stream and a first portion of an expanded second vaporized working fluid stream are employed to augment heat provided by an expanded first vaporized working fluid stream in the production of a second vaporized working fluid stream. The Rankine cycle system is adapted for the use of supercritical carbon dioxide as the working fluid.