A self-contained portable heating system to heat a stored liquid in a storage tank to a desired temperature is provided. The system can comprise operatively connected components such as a generator to power a burner that can transfer energy from a combustion product, from for example, a fuel supplied by an attached fuel tank, to a heat transfer fluid through the use of a boiler. The heat transfer fluid can transfer heat from the boiler to a heat exchanger which can then transfer heat to the stored liquid in the tank. The tank can also comprise a circulating pump that can circulate the heat transfer fluid and an expansion tank that can receive the heat transfer fluid when it expands as a result of being heated. In some embodiments, the heating components can be supplied separately from storage tank so that they can be retrofit onto an existing tank.

Provided is an inexpensive and simple solar power system. A solar power system according to the present invention includes: a heat collection apparatus (2, 4); a steam turbine (5), a power generator (16); a superheated steam supply line which supplies the steam turbine with superheated steam generated by the heat collection apparatus; a water supply line which condenses the steam expelled from the steam turbine into water and supplies the condensed water to the heat collection apparatus; a heat storage device (8) which has a heat storage medium; a first line which branches from the superheated steam supply line and which supplies the heat storage device with the superheated steam flowing through the superheated steam supply line; a second line which branches from the water supply line and which supplies the heat storage device with the water flowing through the water supply line; and a third line which supplies the steam turbine with superheated steam generated by the heat storage device. The heat storage device stores the heat of the superheated steam which has flowed through the first line in the heat storage medium, and heats the water which has flowed through the second line with the heat storage medium to thereby generate the superheated steam.

A means of offsetting semi-circular tube support plates typically present in heat exchangers with cross flow baffles, such as axial flow economizers, utilizing the motive force of steam generator pressurization. The offset slightly flexes the tubes, thereby providing a preload which minimizes the potential for tube vibration and wear.

An electrothermal energy storage and discharge system is provided including a charging cycle and a discharging cycle. The charging cycle includes a refrigeration unit and a thermal unit, and the discharging cycle includes a power unit. The refrigeration unit is driven by an excess electric power and is configured to generate a cold energy storage having a solid carbon dioxide. The thermal unit is driven by a thermal energy and is configured to generate a hot energy storage and/or provide a hot source. The power unit operates between the cold energy storage and at least one of the hot energy storage and hot source so as to retrieve the energy by producing a high pressure carbon dioxide and a hot supercritical carbon dioxide, and generating an electric energy using the hot supercritical carbon dioxide.

An electrothermal energy storage and discharge system is provided including a charging cycle and a discharging cycle. The charging cycle includes a refrigeration unit and a thermal unit, and the discharging cycle includes a power unit. The refrigeration unit is driven by an excess electric power and is configured to generate a cold energy storage having a solid carbon dioxide. The thermal unit is driven by a thermal energy and is configured to generate a hot energy storage and/or provide a hot source. The power unit operates between the cold energy storage and at least one of the hot energy storage and hot source so as to retrieve the energy by producing a high pressure carbon dioxide and a hot supercritical carbon dioxide, and generating an electric energy using the hot supercritical carbon dioxide.

Various embodiments of a waste heat recovery and conversion system are disclosed. The system may include a modular heat exchanger whose energy source is provided by waste heat energy transporting fluids transferring their energy to a working fluid. The working fluid may be in a liquid state contained in a reservoir hydraulically connected to a high-pressure heat transfer chamber. The high-pressure heat transfer chamber may be configured to receive thermal energy utilized to convert the working fluid into a superheated vapor. The system may also include a waste heat conversion system hydraulically connected to the heat transfer chamber to receive the superheated vaporized working fluid from the heat transfer chamber. The waste heat conversion system may be configured to expand the superheated working fluid through an expander for the conversion of waste heat energy into useful energy. For applications involving internal combustion engines, the system may be configured such that the conversion of waste heat energy into useful energy may drive an air compressor to enhance combustion engine performance and decrease pollutant emissions.

A heat transfer device that can improve temperature uniformity along the entire length of a pipe line housed in the heat transfer device is provided. The heat transfer device transferring heat to the pipe line in which a fluid flows includes: a heat transfer block of high heat conductivity, surrounding the pipe line, a heat pipe formed in the heat transfer block, along an extending direction of the pipe line, and a heater applying heat to the heat pipe. The heat transfer block includes a plurality of divided blocks dividable along the extending direction of the pipe line. There is provided a proximity portion where the heat transfer block is in proximate to the pipe line at both ends of the heat transfer block in the extending direction of the pipe line.

A solar plant including a solar field for production of steam, a turbine using steam, and an excess steam storage and draw off system. The system includes a latent heat thermal storage module and a liquid displacement thermal storage module including a liquid volume and a steam blanket. The modules are connected together so that the steam produced passes through the steam blanket before passing through the latent heat module, condensing, to be injected in the liquid volume, the lower part of the liquid volume being connected to the solar field and to an outlet of the turbine to let in or return cold liquid. The liquid volume acts as a liquid displacement reservoir.

A tube and shell steam generator having an anti-clogging heat exchange tube bundle wherein the tube support plates within the tube bundle are designed with varying degrees of porosity thereby regulating local secondary side fluid conditions (velocity, quality, superheat, void fraction, etc.) in a manner to reduce the potential for clogging of the tube support plate lobes that are more prone to clogging.

A back-up boiler system for a solar thermal power plant (201) for transferring solar energy into electricity, said back-up boiler system comprising a combustion chamber (70) and a convection section (80) in fluid connection with said combustion chamber (70), wherein in the convection section (80) at least a first heat exchanger (92) is provided for heating a molten salts mixture of the solar thermal power plant and a second heat exchanger (90) for pre-heating boiler feed water of the solar thermal power plant, wherein the back-up boiler system (25) is configured to allow selection between only providing heat to the first heat exchanger (92), only providing heat to the second heat exchanger (90) and providing heat to both heat exchangers (90, 92), preferably dependent on availability of solar radiation and/or dependent on demand of power generation. The invention also relates to a solar thermal power plant (201) for transferring solar energy into electricity and a method for operating a solar thermal power plant.