An apparatus including a photovoltaic panel; a first fluid container thermally attached to a bottom of the photovoltaic panel; and a temperature sensor for sensing temperature of a fluid inside the first fluid container is part of a sub-system for a power generation system using solar energy. The sub-system further includes a heating assembly, including a second fluid container, a second temperature sensor, and an electrical heating element. The second fluid container is fluidically connected to the first fluid container. The heating element is configured to heat the pre-heated fluid in the second fluid container to its vapor state. The sub-system additionally includes a turbine generator fluidically connected to the second fluid container to generate AC power from the vapor. A system employing a plurality of sub-systems and a method for using the sub-systems are also provided.

A method and mechanical system which incorporates a buoyancy engine into an Organic Rankine Cycle to create mechanical energy which may be used to generate electricity. The modified ORC consists of a closed loop containing a high molecular mass working fluid. The working fluid is vaporized in an evaporator, powers a buoyancy engine, and is recovered in a condenser. The system then utilizes a gravity feed to provide sufficient pressure at the evaporator input. The system can be implemented on a residential scale, capable of operating near ambient temperatures and pressures, and can produce carbon free electric power.

A system for extracting work from the expansion of a working fluid includes a vessel having at least a portion of the working fluid, a heating device in thermal communication with the portion of the working fluid in the vessel for heating the portion of the working fluid in the vessel and expanding the working fluid, and a conversion tool. The conversion tool is in fluid communication with the vessel and is configured to receive working fluid from the vessel when the working fluid expands. The conversion tool is further configured to extract work from the expanded working fluid.

A system for extracting work from the expansion of a working fluid includes a vessel having at least a portion of the working fluid, a heating device in thermal communication with the portion of the working fluid in the vessel for heating the portion of the working fluid in the vessel and expanding the working fluid, and a conversion tool. The conversion tool is in fluid communication with the vessel and is configured to receive working fluid from the vessel when the working fluid expands. The conversion tool is further configured to extract work from the expanded working fluid.

A heat engine, in particular an ORC engine, includes a crankcase and at least one working cylinder connected to the crankcase, in which cylinder a working piston that is rigidly connected to a piston rod can be moved and the end of the piston rod facing away from the working piston is articulatedly connected to a connecting rod by crosshead running in the longitudinal direction of the piston rod. The interior of the working cylinder, which is supplied with a working medium, is separated from the interior of the crankcase, which is supplied with oil, by two walls, each of which has a sealing through-opening for the piston rod.

A system and method removes thermal decomposition components from biphenol and/or diphenyl oxide heat-transfer fluids. Light, volatile decomposition components including benzene, water, hydrogen and phenol leave the system for vapor recovery, chemical adsorption or thermal decomposition. Dimerized and polymerized heavy components such as biphenyl phenyl ether, terphenyl and related isomers are concentrated and recovered. The system can be a continuous, semi-continuous or batch operation. Solar electric plants employing the system can use solar field fluids and heating to operate the system during generator operation hours. A wash system operating at or near atmospheric pressure concentrates heavy thermal decomposition components while allowing removal of light, volatile decomposition components for separation from the majority of the thermal fluid components. Temperature-controlled condensation of the majority of the thermal fluid components allows collection of the thermal fluid, while allowing light, volatile decomposition components to be removed prior to vent processing.

System for storage of electricity in the form of thermal energy, and release of thermal energy during times of demand. The system includes a unit for containing at least one electrically conducting phase change material and electrical circuitry for driving electrical current through the phase change material to heat the phase change material into a molten state, or at least one electrical heater used to convert electricity into heat stored in the phase change material. Structure is provided for transferring heat in the phase change material to a working fluid such as steam or gas for electricity generation in a steam turbine or gas turbine, capable of generating supercritical fluids. Structure is also provided for transferring heat in the phase change material to a thermal energy to electrical energy conversion device. A suitable phase change material is elemental silicon or an aluminum-silicon alloy.

Apparatus for extracting useful work or electricity from low grade thermal sources comprising a chamber, a source of heated dense heat transfer fluid in communication with the chamber, a source of motive fluid in communication with the chamber, wherein the motive fluid comprises a liquid phase, a flow control mechanism cooperating with the source of heated dense heat transfer fluid and with the source of motive fluid to deliver said fluids into the chamber in a manner that said fluids come into direct contact with each other in the chamber to effect a phase change of the motive fluid from liquid to gas to increase the pressure within the chamber to yield pressurized fluids, and a work extracting mechanism in communication with the chamber that extracts work from the pressurized fluids by way of pressure let down.

Thermochemical storage materials having the general formula A.sub.xA.sub.1-xB.sub.yB.sub.1-yO.sub.3-, where A=La, Sr, K, Ca, Ba, Y and B=Mn, Fe, Co, Ti, Ni, Cu, Zr, Al, Y, Cr, V, Nb, Mo, are disclosed. These materials have improved thermal storage energy density and reaction kinetics compared to previous materials. Concentrating solar power thermochemical systems and methods capable of storing heat energy by using these thermochemical storage materials are also disclosed.

An expander of the piston (2) and cylinder (3) type is inverted from normal orientation, with the crankshaft (4) upper most and the cylinder head (5) lower most. The cylinder head has a pair of liquid injectors (6, 7) oriented for respective liquids pentane and glycerine to be injected as mists into contact with each other at the bottom of the cylinder. The pentane is vaporised by transfer of latent heat to it from the glycerine. Respective injector valves (9, 10) from high pressure rails (11, 12) fed by pumps (14, 15) are provided. An exhaust valve (16) is opened by a cam (17) driven at crankshaft speed by a chain drive.