A system for providing supercritical steam including a first boiler that generates steam via combusting a first fuel, and a second boiler fluidly connected to the first boiler via a conduit which heats the generated steam to supercritical steam temperatures via combusting a second fuel. A first temperature of the conduit may be below a critical corrosion temperature and a second temperature of the conduit is greater than or equal to the critical corrosion temperature. A combined carbon emission rate of the first boiler and the second boiler may be less than a combined carbon emission rate of generating and heating the steam to supercritical steam temperatures using boilers that only combust the first fuel. The first boiler may be fluidly connected to a heat exchanger that heats the generated steam to a supercritical steam temperature via a flue gas produced by a gas turbine.

A system for providing supercritical steam including a first boiler that generates steam via combusting a first fuel, and a second boiler fluidly connected to the first boiler via a conduit which heats the generated steam to supercritical steam temperatures via combusting a second fuel. A first temperature of the conduit may be below a critical corrosion temperature and a second temperature of the conduit is greater than or equal to the critical corrosion temperature. A combined carbon emission rate of the first boiler and the second boiler may be less than a combined carbon emission rate of generating and heating the steam to supercritical steam temperatures using boilers that only combust the first fuel. The first boiler may be fluidly connected to a heat exchanger that heats the generated steam to a supercritical steam temperature via a flue gas produced by a gas turbine.

A system for providing supercritical steam including a first boiler that generates steam via combusting a first fuel, and a second boiler fluidly connected to the first boiler via a conduit which heats the generated steam to supercritical steam temperatures via combusting a second fuel. A first temperature of the conduit may be below a critical corrosion temperature and a second temperature of the conduit is greater than or equal to the critical corrosion temperature. A combined carbon emission rate of the first boiler and the second boiler may be less than a combined carbon emission rate of generating and heating the steam to supercritical steam temperatures using boilers that only combust the first fuel. The first boiler may be fluidly connected to a heat exchanger that heats the generated steam to a supercritical steam temperature via a flue gas produced by a gas turbine.

Systems and methods for selectively producing steam from solar collectors and heaters, for processes including enhanced oil recovery. A representative system includes a water source, a solar collector that includes a collector inlet, a collector outlet, and a plurality of solar concentrators positioned to heat water passing from the collector inlet to the collector outlet, a fuel-fired heater, a steam outlet connected to an oil field injection well, and a water flow network coupled among the water source, the solar collector, the heater, and the steam outlet. The system can further include a controller operatively coupled to the water flow network and programmed with instructions that, when executed, direct at least one portion of the flow through the solar collector and the fuel-fired heater in a first sequence, and direct the at least one portion or a different portion of the flow through the solar collector and the fuel-fired heater in a second sequence different than the first sequence.

Separators and mixers for delivering controlled-quality solar-generated steam over long distances for enhanced oil recovery, and associated systems and methods. A representative method includes heating water to steam at a solar field, separating a liquid fraction from the steam, directing the steam toward a target steam user via a first, steam conduit, and directing the liquid fraction toward the target steam user in parallel with the steam via second, liquid fraction conduit. The method can further include mixing the liquid fraction and the steam before delivering the combined liquid fraction and steam to the target user.

A method and a device for recovering heat from an engine and for converting the heat into mechanical energy using an expansion machine. A heat accumulator fluid is guided in a primary circuit by means of a primary pump and is firstly heated by the waste heat of the combustion engine by means of a heat exchanger, is transferred into a heat accumulator and recirculated to the first heat exchanger, and, secondly, the heat accumulator fluid is guided in a secondary circuit by said heat accumulator fluid being extracted in the vapor state from the heat accumulator and being supplied to the expansion machine, and being condensed by means of a condenser downstream thereof and being recirculated into the heat accumulator by means of a secondary pump. The primary circuit of the heat accumulator fluid is connected to the secondary circuit exclusively via the heat accumulator.

The present disclosure relates to power plants. Various embodiments thereof may include a method for operating a gas-and-steam combined-cycle power plant. For example, some embodiments may include a method for operating a gas-and-steam combined-cycle power plant including: providing exhaust gas from a gas turbine to a steam generator; generating steam by means of the exhaust gas; driving a generator with the steam via a turbine installation to provide an electric current; removing the exhaust gas from the steam generator; and using at least a portion of heat contained in the exhaust gas downstream from the steam generator to affect an endothermic chemical reaction.

The present disclosure relates to combined gas and steam power plants. Various embodiments may include methods for operating such plants, such as: generating hot steam with an exhaust gas of a gas turbine; driving a generator with the steam; diverting at least a part of the generated steam and storing the diverted steam in a steam accumulator; then, discharging at least a part of the steam stored in the steam accumulator from the steam accumulator; heating the steam discharged from the steam accumulator with heat released during an exothermic chemical reaction; and feeding the heated steam to drive the turbine device.

The present disclosure relates to power plants. Teachings thereof may be embodied in methods for operating a combined gas-and-steam power plant and/or combined gas-and-steam power plants. For example, some embodiments may include a method for operating a combined gas-and-steam power plant comprising: generating steam with waste gas from a gas turbine; driving a generator for providing electrical current via a turbine device; and using at least part of the heat in the steam to affect an endothermic chemical reaction.

The present disclosure relates to power plants. Teachings thereof may be embodied in methods for operating a combined gas-and-steam power plant and/or combined gas-and-steam power plants. For example, some embodiments may include a method for operating a combined gas-and-steam power plant comprising: generating steam with waste gas from a gas turbine; driving a generator for providing electrical current via a turbine device; and using at least part of the heat in the steam to affect an endothermic chemical reaction.