An exhaust steam stream having an absolute pressure from 200 kPa to 1,050 kPa and shaft power are produced from an extraction turbine and/or a back-pressure turbine. The exhaust steam stream can be supplied to an amine regenerator of an amine CO.sub.2 separation process. The shaft power can be utilized to drive equipment in a hydrocarbon processing plant such as an olefins production plant.

An exhaust steam stream having an absolute pressure from 200 kPa to 1,050 kPa and shaft power are produced from an extraction turbine and/or a back-pressure turbine. The exhaust steam stream can be supplied to an amine regenerator of an amine CO.sub.2 separation process. The shaft power can be utilized to drive equipment in a hydrocarbon processing plant such as an olefins production plant.

A steam engine (10) has an engine case (14), a stator (20) with a radially-inner surface (52) with a plurality of recesses (54), a steam generator (12) and a rotor 5 (22) that has a steam distribution chamber (44) arranged to receive steam from the generator and a plurality of steam distribution channels (46) having outlets (50) for the flow of steam into the stator recesses (54). The rotor has pressure relief ports (60) for the flow of steam from the recesses (54) into the engine case (14) and then to a condensation circuit (66). The engine operates without a boiler and produces 0 steam by injecting water into the generator (12) where it is rapidly vapourized. The rotor (22) is the only moving part and the engine can produce a wide range of power outputs.

A steam engine (10) has an engine case (14), a stator (20) with a radially-inner surface (52) with a plurality of recesses (54), a steam generator (12) and a rotor 5 (22) that has a steam distribution chamber (44) arranged to receive steam from the generator and a plurality of steam distribution channels (46) having outlets (50) for the flow of steam into the stator recesses (54). The rotor has pressure relief ports (60) for the flow of steam from the recesses (54) into the engine case (14) and then to a condensation circuit (66). The engine operates without a boiler and produces 0 steam by injecting water into the generator (12) where it is rapidly vapourized. The rotor (22) is the only moving part and the engine can produce a wide range of power outputs.

Systems and methods to control power plant operation via control of turbine run-up and acceleration are disclosed. According to one embodiment of the disclosure, a method of controlling a turbine in a power plant can be provided. The method may include receiving an operating pressure of a condenser associated with a power plant; receiving a rotor speed of a turbine associated with the power plant; receiving a last stage blade (LSB) protection limit for the turbine; based at least in part on the operating pressure of the condenser, the rotor speed of the turbine, and the LSB protection limit, allowing, via a control system, a run-up of the turbine. The method may further include: receiving a rotor speed gradient of the turbine; receiving one or more critical speed ranges associated with the rotor speed of the turbine; and based at least in part on the operating pressure of the condenser, the rotor speed, the rotor speed gradient, and the one or more critical speed ranges, regulating, via the control system, at least one of: the rotor speed of the turbine and the rotor speed gradient of the turbine.

There is provided a steam power cycle system in which steam power cycles using pure materials as a working fluid is used in a multiple stage to reduce pressure loss in the flow channels in the respective heat exchanger so that the fluid serving as heat sources has been caused to make an effective heat exchange with the working fluid. More specifically, not only that the respective flow channels for the fluid serving as heat sources in the evaporator and the condenser in the respective steam power cycle units are connected in series to each other, but the evaporator and the condenser comprise a cross-flow type heat exchanger and are arranged respectively in a flowing direction of the fluid serving as heat source. Consequently, it is possible to reduce the length of the flow channels to the minimum necessary, simplify the flow channel structure, and reduce the pressure loss.

A method and system using at least two different working fluids to be supplied to an expander to cause it to do mechanical work. The expander is started by providing a compressed gaseous working fluid at a sufficient pressure to the expander. At the same time the compressed gaseous working fluid is provided to the expander, a second working fluid that is liquid at ambient temperatures is provided to a heater to be heated. The second working fluid is heated to its boiling point and converted to pressurized gas Once the pressure is increased to a sufficient level, the second working fluid is injected into the expander to generate power, and the supply of the first working fluid may be stopped. After expansion in the expander, the working fluids are is exhausted from the expander, and the second working fluid may be condensed for separation from the first working fluid. Control circuitry controls the admission of the first and second working fluids responsive to monitoring the load on the expander. Waste heat in the exhaust from the expander can be used to heat or alternatively to dry an element in a device that can be operated as a desiccator to dry air when operated in a summer mode, or to heat air when operated in a winter mode. The air having been dried or alternatively heated is then ducted to an evaporative cooler which cools the dried air in summer mode and humidifies the heated air in winter mode.

A method and system using at least two different working fluids to be supplied to an expander to cause it to do mechanical work. The expander is started by providing a compressed gaseous working fluid at a sufficient pressure to the expander. At the same time the compressed gaseous working fluid is provided to the expander, a second working fluid that is liquid at ambient temperatures is provided to a heater to be heated. The second working fluid is heated to its boiling point and converted to pressurized gas Once the pressure is increased to a sufficient level, the second working fluid is injected into the expander to generate power, and the supply of the first working fluid may be stopped. After expansion in the expander, the working fluids are is exhausted from the expander, and the second working fluid may be condensed for separation from the first working fluid. Control circuitry controls the admission of the first and second working fluids responsive to monitoring the load on the expander. Waste heat in the exhaust from the expander can be used to heat or alternatively to dry an element in a device that can be operated as a desiccator to dry air when operated in a summer mode, or to heat air when operated in a winter mode. The air having been dried or alternatively heated is then ducted to an evaporative cooler which cools the dried air in summer mode and humidifies the heated air in winter mode.

A powerplant is provided that includes an engine and a water recovery system. The engine includes an engine combustor, an engine turbine, a flowpath and a fluid delivery system. The flowpath extends out of the engine combustor and through the engine turbine. The fluid delivery system includes a hydrogen reservoir and an oxygen reservoir. The hydrogen reservoir is configured to store fluid hydrogen as liquid hydrogen. The oxygen reservoir is configured to store fluid oxygen as liquid oxygen. The fluid delivery system is configured to provide the fluid hydrogen and the fluid oxygen for combustion within the engine combustor to produce combustion products within the flowpath. The water recovery system is configured to extract water from the combustion products. The water recovery system is configured to provide the water to a component of the powerplant.

A powerplant is provided that includes an engine and a water recovery system. The engine includes an engine combustor, an engine turbine, a flowpath and a fluid delivery system. The flowpath extends out of the engine combustor and through the engine turbine. The fluid delivery system includes a hydrogen reservoir and an oxygen reservoir. The hydrogen reservoir is configured to store fluid hydrogen as liquid hydrogen. The oxygen reservoir is configured to store fluid oxygen as liquid oxygen. The fluid delivery system is configured to provide the fluid hydrogen and the fluid oxygen for combustion within the engine combustor to produce combustion products within the flowpath. The water recovery system is configured to extract water from the combustion products. The water recovery system is configured to provide the water to a component of the powerplant.