A steam power plant is suggested having, parallel to the high-pressure preheater passage (VW4 to VW6), a heat reservoir (A) which is loaded with preheated condensate in weak-load times. This preheated condensate is taken from the heat reservoir (A) for generating peak-load and inserted downstream of the high-pressure preheater passage (VW4 to VW6) into the condensate line (19.2) resp. the feed water container (8). Thus it is possible to quickly control the power generation of the power plant in a wide range without significantly having to change the heating output of the boiler of the steam generator (1). A steam power plant equipped according to the invention can thus be operated with bigger load modifications and also provide more control energy.

Disclosed illustrative embodiments include systems and methods for power peaking with energy storage. In an illustrative, non-limiting embodiment, a power plant includes a thermodynamic piping circuit having a working fluid contained therein, and the working fluid has a flow direction and a flow rate. Power plant components are interposed in the thermodynamic piping circuit. The power plant components include a compressor system, a recuperator system, a heat source, a turbine system, a heat rejection system, and a thermal energy storage system. A valving system is operable to selectively couple the heat rejection system, the thermal energy storage system, and the compressor system in thermohydraulic communication with the working fluid maintaining the flow direction and the flow rate to implement a thermodynamic cycle chosen from a Brayton cycle, a combination Brayton cycle/refrigeration cycle, and a Rankine cycle.

A fluid storage tank can be configured to store a cooling fluid in a liquid state and a gas state. A first heat exchanger can be configured to release heat into the fluid storage tank. A second heat exchanger can be disposed fluidly downstream of the fluid storage tank and configured to exchange heat between the cooling fluid and a heat load. A pressure control device can be disposed fluidly downstream of the second heat exchanger. One of the first cooling fluid that has been heated by the second heat exchanger or a second cooling fluid different than the first cooling fluid can pass through the first heat exchanger and thereby heat upstream first cooling fluid resident in the fluid storage tank.

A fluid storage tank can be configured to store a cooling fluid in a liquid state and a gas state. A first heat exchanger can be configured to release heat into the fluid storage tank. A second heat exchanger can be disposed fluidly downstream of the fluid storage tank and configured to exchange heat between the cooling fluid and a heat load. A pressure control device can be disposed fluidly downstream of the second heat exchanger. One of the first cooling fluid that has been heated by the second heat exchanger or a second cooling fluid different than the first cooling fluid can pass through the first heat exchanger and thereby heat upstream first cooling fluid resident in the fluid storage tank.

A thermal system includes a tank storing a cooling fluid in a liquid state and a gas state, a first heat exchanger releasing heat into the tank, a second heat exchanger fluidly downstream of the fluid storage tank and exchanging heat between the cooling fluid and a heat load, a turbine fluidly downstream of the second heat exchanger and extracting mechanical energy from the cooling fluid, and a combustor fluidly upstream of the turbine and fluidly downstream of the second heat exchanger. The cooling fluid that has been heated by the second heat exchanger passes through the first heat exchanger and thereby heats upstream cooling fluid resident in the fluid storage tank, and the combustor is configured to ignite the cooling fluid flowing from the second heat exchanger such that combusted cooling fluid flows through and drives the turbine.

A thermal system includes a tank storing a cooling fluid in a liquid state and a gas state, a first heat exchanger releasing heat into the tank, a second heat exchanger fluidly downstream of the fluid storage tank and exchanging heat between the cooling fluid and a heat load, a turbine fluidly downstream of the second heat exchanger and extracting mechanical energy from the cooling fluid, and a combustor fluidly upstream of the turbine and fluidly downstream of the second heat exchanger. The cooling fluid that has been heated by the second heat exchanger passes through the first heat exchanger and thereby heats upstream cooling fluid resident in the fluid storage tank, and the combustor is configured to ignite the cooling fluid flowing from the second heat exchanger such that combusted cooling fluid flows through and drives the turbine.