Systems and methods are described for generating electricity from fluid produced from a subsurface formation. The disclosed systems and methods include generating electrical power using the energy content of fluids produced from the earth or hot fluids created during surface processing of the produced fluids. Specific systems and methods describe utilizing heat and pressure of oil, gas, or water to generate electrical power.

A hybrid heat engine system includes a valve configured to provide first fluid from a heat source. The hybrid heat engine system further includes one or more first pipes fluidly coupled between the valve and a turbine. The one or more first pipes house a second fluid. The hybrid heat engine system further includes a chamber disposed between the valve and the one or more first pipes. The hybrid heat engine system further includes a piston disposed in the chamber between the first fluid and the second fluid. At least a portion of the second fluid is to be pushed through the turbine to generate energy responsive to actuation of the valve.

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.

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. The system includes an Organic Rankine cycle energy conversion system including a pump, an energy conversion heat exchanger configured to heat the working fluid by exchange with the heated heating fluid stream, a turbine and a generator configured to generate power by expansion of the heated working fluid, a cooling element configured to cool the expanded working fluid after power generation, and an accumulation tank. The heating fluid flows from the accumulation tank, through the waste heat recovery heat exchanger, through the Organic Rankine cycle energy conversion system, and back to the accumulation tank.

An apparatus for rapidly evaporating liquid includes an exhaust flow channel having opposing openings including an upstream opening and a downstream opening. The channel defines an exhaust path proceeding from the upstream opening through the exhaust flow channel and through the downstream opening. Within the exhaust flow channel, a conduit path includes repeated passes transverse to the exhaust path. Attached to the exhaust flow channel proximate the downstream opening, a spray fixture is coupled to an exit port of the conduit. The spray fixture includes a divider to divide fluid from the exit port into multiple streams and an aimer to direct the multiple streams into the exhaust path.

A power generation system and method including a first heat exchanger, a first thermal engine, and a first power generator on a first working medium line L1 that circulates a first working medium W1, a second heat exchanger, a third working medium supply device that supplies a third working medium W3, and a mixing device for mixing a second working medium W2 and the third working medium. A second thermal engine, and a second power generator are included on a second working medium line L2 that circulates the second working medium. On both of a downstream side of the first thermal engine on the first working medium line and a downstream side of the second thermal engine on the second working medium line, a third heat exchanger is included. Also included is a third working medium discharge device for discharging the third working medium to the third heat exchanger.

In order to improve an expansion system for a working medium that is used in particular in a circulating process of a system that utilises waste heat, in particular in a system operating in a Rankine cycle, comprising an expansion device coupled to an electricity generator, for the working medium, an inlet for supplying the pressurised working medium, and an outlet for the working medium that has been expanded by the expansion device, it is proposed that an aerosol generator unit that generates a lubricant aerosol should be associated with the inlet, wherein the working medium guided to the expansion device flows through this aerosol generator unit, which has a flow guide for the working medium having a concentration section that concentrates lubricant entrained in the total mass flow of working medium supplied to the expansion device to give aerosol particles, and these aerosol particles leave the concentration section together with a partial mass flow of the working medium, branching off from the total mass flow of working medium, as a lubricant aerosol mass flow, and that a line system should be provided that guides the lubricant aerosol mass flow to lubrication points of an expansion arrangement of the expansion device, for the purpose of aerosol lubrication.

An Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) device and method for transforming waste heat from a heat source containing compressed gas into mechanical energy. The ORC includes a closed circuit containing a two-phase working fluid, the circuit including a liquid pump for circulating the working fluid in the circuit consecutively through an evaporator which is in thermal contact with the heat source; through an expander like a turbine for transforming the thermal energy of the working fluid into mechanical energy; and through a condenser which is in thermal contact with a cooling element. The ORC determines the mechanical energy generated by the expander. A control device regulates the fraction of the working fluid entering the expander based on the determined mechanical energy such that the mechanical energy generated by the expander is maximum.

The present invention is a system and method of power medium expansion that functions with a rate of efficiency higher than systems found in prior art. Novel features of the system increase the overall efficiency with the use of a power medium that begins the cycle in the liquid state and enters the gaseous state. An additional novel feature is the use of additional heat that may also increase the overall cycle efficiency. Another additional novel feature is recuperating energy that can supplement the phase change of the power medium along with isolating the components from the ambient.

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. The system includes a modified Goswami cycle energy conversion system including 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 cycle energy conversion system includes a separator configured to receive the heated first and second portions of the working fluid and to output a vapor stream of the working fluid and a liquid stream of the working fluid; a first turbine and a generator are configured to generate power by expansion of a first portion of the vapor stream of the working fluid; a cooling subsystem including one or more cooling elements configured to cool a chilling fluid stream by exchange with a cooled second portion of the vapor stream of the working fluid; and a second turbine configured to generate power from the liquid stream of the working fluid.