In general, in one aspect, the invention relates to a system to create vapor for generating electric power. The system includes a vessel comprising a fluid and a complex and a turbine. The vessel of the system is configured to concentrate EM radiation received from an EM radiation source. The vessel of the system is further configured to apply the EM radiation to the complex, where the complex absorbs the EM radiation to generate heat. The vessel of the system is also configured to transform, using the heat generated by the complex, the fluid to vapor. The vessel of the system is further configured to sending the vapor to a turbine. The turbine of the system is configured to receive, from the vessel, the vapor used to generate the electric power.

The present invention provides a method for lubricating an expansion machine, which method comprises: supplying of an operating medium which contains a lubricant by a vaporizer; separating of at least part of the lubricant from the operating medium which contains a lubricant and is supplied by the vaporizer; and supplying of the operating medium, which is depleted by the separation of the at least one part of the lubricant from the lubricant, to the expansion machine. Furthermore, a device is provided having a vaporizer which is configured for vaporizing an operating medium which contains a lubricant and for supplying it to an expansion machine, and having a lubricant separating device which is configured for separating at least one part of the lubricant from the operating medium which contains the lubricant and is supplied by the vaporizer to the expansion machine.

The present invention provides a method for lubricating an expansion machine, which method comprises: supplying of an operating medium which contains a lubricant by a vaporizer; separating of at least part of the lubricant from the operating medium which contains a lubricant and is supplied by the vaporizer; and supplying of the operating medium, which is depleted by the separation of the at least one part of the lubricant from the lubricant, to the expansion machine. Furthermore, a device is provided having a vaporizer which is configured for vaporizing an operating medium which contains a lubricant and for supplying it to an expansion machine, and having a lubricant separating device which is configured for separating at least one part of the lubricant from the operating medium which contains the lubricant and is supplied by the vaporizer to the expansion machine.

Disclosed is a waste heat recovery apparatus which comprises: a gas-liquid separator; an expander into which a gaseous working medium separated by the gas-liquid separator flows; a driven machine; a condenser; a first pump; a first heater; a circulation flow passage for serially connecting the gas-liquid separator, the expander, the condenser, the first pump and the first heater in this order; a heat recovery flow passage for allowing a liquid working medium discharged from the gas-liquid separator to merge with the working medium flowing in a portion between the first heater and the gas-liquid separator in the circulation flow passage; and a second pump.

Disclosed is a waste heat recovery apparatus which comprises: a gas-liquid separator; an expander into which a gaseous working medium separated by the gas-liquid separator flows; a driven machine; a condenser; a first pump; a first heater; a circulation flow passage for serially connecting the gas-liquid separator, the expander, the condenser, the first pump and the first heater in this order; a heat recovery flow passage for allowing a liquid working medium discharged from the gas-liquid separator to merge with the working medium flowing in a portion between the first heater and the gas-liquid separator in the circulation flow passage; and a second pump.

The present disclosure is directed to heat recovery systems that employ two or more organic Rankine cycle (ORC) units disposed in series. According to certain embodiments, each ORC unit includes an evaporator that heats an organic working fluid, a turbine generator set that expands the working fluid to generate electricity, a condenser that cools the working fluid, and a pump that returns the working fluid to the evaporator. The heating fluid is directed through each evaporator to heat the working fluid circulating within each ORC unit, and the cooling fluid is directed through each condenser to cool the working fluid circulating within each ORC unit. The heating fluid and the cooling fluid flow through the ORC units in series in the same or opposite directions.

The present disclosure is directed to heat recovery systems that employ two or more organic Rankine cycle (ORC) units disposed in series. According to certain embodiments, each ORC unit includes an evaporator that heats an organic working fluid, a turbine generator set that expands the working fluid to generate electricity, a condenser that cools the working fluid, and a pump that returns the working fluid to the evaporator. The heating fluid is directed through each evaporator to heat the working fluid circulating within each ORC unit, and the cooling fluid is directed through each condenser to cool the working fluid circulating within each ORC unit. The heating fluid and the cooling fluid flow through the ORC units in series in the same or opposite directions.

Methods of making fuel are described herein. A method may include providing a first working fluid, a second working fluid, and a third working fluid. The method may also include exposing the first working fluid to a first high voltage electric field to produce a first plasma, exposing the second working fluid to a second high voltage electric field to produce a second plasma, and exposing the third working fluid to a third high voltage electric field to produce a third plasma. The method may also include providing and contacting a carbon-based feedstock with the third plasma, the second plasma, and the first plasma within a processing chamber to form a mixture, cooling the mixture using a heat exchange device to form a cooled mixture, and contacting the cooled mixture with a catalyst to form a fuel.

Systems and methods for variable pressure inventory control of a closed thermodynamic cycle power generation system or energy storage system, such as a reversible Brayton cycle system, with at least a high pressure tank and an intermediate pressure tank are disclosed. Operational parameters of the system such as working fluid pressure, turbine torque, turbine RPM, generator torque, generator RPM, and current, voltage, phase, frequency, and/or quantity of electrical power generated and/or distributed by the generator may be the basis for controlling a quantity of working fluid that circulates through a closed cycle fluid path of the system.

The single-working-medium vapor combined cycle is provided in this invitation and belongs to the field of energy and power technology. A single-working-medium vapor combined cycle consists of nine processes which are conducted with M.sub.1 kg of working medium and M.sub.2 kg of working medium separately or jointly: a pressurization process 1-2 of the M.sub.1 kg of working medium, a heat-absorption vaporization and superheating process 2-3 of the M.sub.1 kg of working medium, a depressurization process 3-4 of the M.sub.1 kg of working medium, a pressurization process 7-4 of M.sub.2 kg of working medium, a heat-absorption process 4-5 of the M.sub.3 kg of working medium, a depressurization process 5-6 of the M.sub.3 kg of working medium, a heat-releasing process 6-7 of the M.sub.3 kg of working medium, a heat-releasing and condensation process 7-1 of the M.sub.1 kg of working medium; M.sub.3 is the sum of M.sub.1 and M.sub.2.