To produce power using the cold in a stored fluid in a cold condensed state (for example, LNG or liquid air), the fluid is initially pumped, heated, and expanded to generate a first amount of power and form initially expanded fluid, which is then re-condensed, re-pumped, re-heated, and re-expanded to generate a second amount of power, where the initially expanded fluid is re-condensed against the pumped fluid from the initial pumping. The technique can be used to store excess energy in the cold condensed fluid using excess energy generation capacity for subsequent recovery when energy is either deficient or otherwise more expense to generate.

Methods and apparatus for cooling a surface on a flight vehicle and generating power include advancing the vehicle at a speed of at least Mach 3 to aerodynamically heat the surface. A first working fluid circulates through a first fluid loop that heats the first working fluid through a first heat intake thermally coupled to the surface and expands the first working fluid in a first thermal engine to generate a first work output. A second fluid loop has a second working fluid that receives heat from the first working fluid and a second thermal engine to generate a second work output. The first and second work outputs are operably coupled to first and second generators, respectively, to power primary or auxiliary systems on the flight vehicle.

Power generation systems are described. The systems include a shaft, a compressor operably coupled to a first end of the shaft, a turbine operably coupled to a second end of the shaft, a generator operably coupled to the shaft between the compressor and the turbine, and a working fluid arranged in a closed-loop flow path that flows through each of the compressor and the turbine to drive rotation of the shaft. The shaft includes an internal fluid conduit configured to receive a portion of the working fluid at one of the first end and the second end and convey the portion of the working fluid through the generator to the other of the first end and the second end, wherein the portion of the working fluid is rejoined with a primary flow path of the working fluid.

The present invention provides a direct-fired supercritical carbon dioxide power generation system and a power generation method thereof, the system comprising: a combustor for burning hydrocarbon fuel and oxygen; a turbine driven by combustion gas discharged from the combustor; a heat exchanger for cooling combustion gas discharged after driving the turbine, by heat exchange with combustion gas recycled and supplied to the combustor; and an air separation unit for separating air to produce oxygen, wherein a portion of the combustion gas discharged after driving the turbine is branched before being introduced to the heat exchanger and is supplied to the air separation unit.

Supercritical fluid systems and aircraft power systems are described. The systems include a compressor, a turbine, and a generator. A primary working fluid flow path has a primary working fluid that passes through the compressor, a separator, the turbine, and back to the compressor. A secondary working fluid flow path having a secondary working fluid that passes through the generator, the compressor, the separator, and back to the generator. The primary working fluid and the secondary working fluid are compressed and mixed within the compressor to form a mixture of the two fluids and the separator separates the mixture of the two fluids to direct the primary working fluid back to the turbine and the secondary working fluid to the generator.

Supercritical fluid systems and aircraft power systems are described. The systems include a compressor, a turbine, and a generator. A primary working fluid flow path has a primary working fluid that passes through the compressor, a separator, the turbine, and back to the compressor. A secondary working fluid flow path having a secondary working fluid that passes through the generator, the compressor, the separator, and back to the generator. The primary working fluid and the secondary working fluid are compressed and mixed within the compressor to form a mixture of the two fluids and the separator separates the mixture of the two fluids to direct the primary working fluid back to the turbine and the secondary working fluid to the generator.

An energy storage plant includes a casing for the storage of a working fluid different from atmospheric air, in gaseous phase and in pressure equilibrium with the atmosphere; and a tank for the storage of said working fluid in liquid or super-critical phase with a temperature close to the critical temperature. The critical temperature is close to the ambient temperature. The plant is configured to perform a closed cyclic thermodynamic transformation, first in one direction in a charge configuration and then in an opposite direction in a discharge configuration, between said casing and said tank. In the charge configuration the plant stores heat and pressure and in the discharge configuration generates mechanical energy to drive a driven machine.

A heat exchanger includes a shell housing a plurality of tubes and defining an exhaust fluid flow path within a first volume enclosed by the shell. The outer surfaces of the plurality of tubes are in fluid communication with the exhaust fluid flow path. The heat exchanger includes a cap attached to a first end of the shell and defining a second volume. A header is configured to separate the first volume from the second volume, flex with thermal expansion, and define tube inlet and outlet positions. The tube inlets and outlets are in fluid communication with a source fluid flow path, and each tube is substantially U-shaped and defines a flow path of the source fluid within the exhaust fluid flow path. The heat exchanger includes at least one longitudinal flow baffle within the shell configured to reduce an amount of exhaust fluid that may bypass the tubes.

A compander comprises a bull gear connected to a generator a first pinion member comprising at least one first pinion provided on one side of the bull gear; and a second pinion member comprising at least one second pinion provided on the other side of the bull gear, wherein a first compressor and a first expander are mounted on the first pinion of the first pinion member, and a second compressor and a second expander are mounted on the second pinion of the second pinion member.

A method for operating a turbine unit having at least two partial turbines, wherein a steam volumetric flow is conducted by a steam transfer device from the partial turbine arranged upstream to a partial turbine arranged downstream, which is connected after the partial turbine arranged upstream, wherein a pressure level within the steam transfer device is manipulated in accordance with a load range in which the turbine unit is operated, in such a way that the exhaust steam of the partial turbine arranged upstream remains superheated in the event of operation of the turbine unit in a partial-load range below the IGV point and/or in the event of a quick increase in the partial load.