The present invention provides a high efficiency prime mover with phase change energy storage for distributed generation and motor vehicle application. Phase change storage minimizes energy required for refrigerant liquefaction while reducing fuel consumption and emissions.

Modern thermal power plants based on classical thermodynamic power cycles suffer from an upper bound efficiency restriction imposed by the Carnot principle. This disclosure teaches how to break away from the classical thermodynamics paradigm in configuring a thermal power plant so that its efficiency will not be restricted by the Carnot principle. The power generation system described herein makes a path for the next generation of low-to-moderate temperature thermal power plants to run at significantly higher efficiencies powered by renewable energy. This disclosure also reveals novel high-performance power schemes with integrated fuel cell technology, driven by a variety of fuels such as hydrogen, ammonia, syngas, methane and natural gas, leading toward low-to-zero emission power generation for the future.

Systems and methods relating to use of external air for inventory control of a closed thermodynamic cycle system or energy storage system, such as a reversible Brayton cycle system, are disclosed. A method may involve, in a closed cycle system operating in a power generation mode, circulating a working fluid may through a closed cycle fluid path. The closed cycle fluid path may include a high pressure leg and a low pressure leg. The method may further involve in response to a demand for increased power generation, compressing and dehumidifying environmental air. And the method may involve injecting the compressed and dehumidified environmental air into the low pressure leg.

Solar and steam hybrid power generation system including a solar steam generator, an external steam regulator, a turboset, and a power generator. A steam outlet end of the solar steam generator is connected to a steam inlet of the turboset. A steam outlet end of the external steam regulator is connected to the steam inlet of the turboset. A steam outlet of the turboset is connected to the input end of a condenser, and the output end of the condenser is connected to the input end of a deaerator. The output end of the deaerator is connected to the input end of a water feed pump. The output end of the water feed pump is connected to a circulating water input end of the solar steam generator. The output end of the water feed pump is connected to a water-return bypass of the external steam.

Disclosed are a Co.sub.3O.sub.4 nanosheet loaded stainless steel mesh, a preparation method and an application thereof. The method includes: S1, depositing a cobalt hydroxide nanosheet array on a surface of a stainless steel mesh by an electrochemical deposition method, and obtaining the stainless steel mesh deposited with the cobalt hydroxide nanosheet array; and S2, obtaining the Co.sub.3O.sub.4 nanosheet loaded stainless steel mesh by calcining the stainless steel mesh deposited with the cobalt hydroxide nanosheet array.

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.

A system for generating electricity, heat, and desalinated water having a gas turbine system connected to a first electric generator, a waste heat recovery boiler (WHRB) system, a combined heat and power (CHP) generation system connected to a second electric generator, one or more solar powered energy systems, and a desalination system. The desalination system is connected to the CHP generation system and the WHRB system. The gas turbine system generates electricity and heat, the WHRB system is connected to and uses the exhaust of the gas turbine system to provide heat and steam power to the CHP generation system. The CHP generation system produces and provides electricity and heat to the desalination system, which produces product water, and at least one solar powered energy system provides thermal energy to one or more of the gas turbine system, the WHRB system, the CHP generation system, and the desalination system.

The invention relates to a device comprising at least one vertical pump (3) and at least one associated turbine (4) for transporting, over a level difference, a heat-transfer fluid brought to a high temperature, wherein the device further comprises a device for mechanically coupling the turbine (4) with the pump (3), comprising a gearbox (21) with a gimbal coupling (41) located on the turbine (4) side, allowing the mechanical energy produced by the turbine (4) to be reused to actuate the pump (3).

An external solar receiver, for a concentrating thermodynamic solar power plant of the type with a tower and heliostat field, has a wind tight modular inner structure, also called “casing,” and a plurality of heat exchanger tube receiver panels fastened to that inner structure. Each panel has a plurality of metal boxes supporting the heat exchanger tubes and assembled to one another by assembly means allowing the disassembly, each box being covered with thermal insulation via an anchor. The tubes are secured to the boxes by a removable and floating connector.

A method for generating a steam cycle at a pressure around 200 bars and a temperature around 600° C., using an industrial steam generator with a solar receiver admitting an incident solar flux around 600 kW/m.sup.2, includes: generating a water-steam mixture in the evaporator by transferring heat from the incident solar flux onto the evaporator; separating the water-steam mixture into saturated water and saturated steam in the separator drum, the saturated steam having a pressure from 160 to 200 bars and a temperature from 347 to 366° C.; injecting the feed water into the mixing drum, where it is mixed with the saturated water from the separator drum, the mixed water next returning toward the evaporator via the return pipe provided with the circulation pump, such that the temperature of the mixed water entering the evaporator is below the saturated steam temperature, by a value from 5 to 15° C.