Systems and methods are provided for charging a pumped thermal energy storage (PTES) system. A system may include a compressor or pump configured to circulate a working fluid within a fluid circuit, wherein the working fluid enters the pump at a first pressure and exits at a second pressure; a first heat exchanger through which the working fluid circulates in use; a second heat exchanger through which the working fluid circulates in use; a third heat exchanger through which the working fluid circulates in use, a turbine positioned between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, configured to expand the working fluid to the first pressure; a high temperature reservoir connected to the first heat exchanger; a low temperature reservoir connected to the second heat exchanger, and a waste heat reservoir connected to the third heat exchanger.

Systems and methods are provided for generating electricity via a pumped thermal energy storage (PTES) system. A system may include a pump configured to circulate a working fluid within a fluid circuit, wherein the working fluid enters the pump at a first pressure and exits at a second pressure; a first heat exchanger; a second heat exchanger; a turbine positioned between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, configured to expand a first portion of the working fluid to the first pressure; a heat rejection heat exchanger configured to remove thermal energy from a second portion of the working fluid; a high temperature reservoir connected to the first heat exchanger; and a low temperature reservoir connected to the second heat exchanger.

Power recovery turbines can be used debottlenecking of an existing plant, as well as recover electric power when revamping a plant. A process for recovering energy in a petroleum, petrochemical, or chemical plant is described. A fluid stream having a first control valve thereon is identified. A first power-recovery turbine is installed at the location of the first control valve, and at least a portion of the first fluid stream is directed through the first power-recovery turbine to generate electric power as direct current therefrom. The electric power is then recovered.

A piping system of a steam turbine plant is provided with: steam piping connected to a steam turbine; bypass piping which branches from the steam piping at a branching portion and which is connected to a condenser; a steam check valve provided between the branching portion of the steam piping and the steam turbine; and a turbine bypass valve provided in the bypass piping. A piping system cleaning method includes the steps of: connecting at least one valve of the steam check valve and the turbine bypass valve and a connecting portion provided between the turbine bypass valve of the bypass piping and the condenser, by using temporary piping having a foreign matter collecting portion; closing a flow path on the outlet side of the valve; cleaning the steam piping by supplying steam to the steam piping; and sending the steam to the condenser through the temporary piping.

A dual trip manifold assembly (TMA) includes an isolation valve assembly having a first valve configured to receive a flow of fluid from a hydraulic system fluid supply. The first valve is configured to channel the flow of fluid to at least one hydraulic circuit. The isolation valve assembly also includes a second valve configured to receive the flow of fluid from the at least one hydraulic circuit of the at least two hydraulic circuits. The second valve is further configured to channel the fluid flow to a trip header and to receive the fluid flow from the trip header. The first valve and the second valve are synchronized to each other such that rotation of one of said first and second valves causes a substantially similar rotation in the other of said first and second valves header.

This electrical energy distribution system comprises assembly of electrical energy generators each driven by a heat engine and supplying a distribution network; means for recovering the heat energy generated during the operation of the heat engines and for vaporizing a working fluid; steam turbine driven by the working fluid and associated with a generator connected to the distribution network for converting the recovered heat energy into electrical energy and at least one frequency converter arranged between the distribution network and an electrical load. It comprises means for controlling the frequency of the distribution network, where the flow rate of the vaporized working fluid is regulated to a maximum value.

In one embodiment, a plant control apparatus is configured to control a power generating plant that includes a gas turbine configured to be driven by a gas, an exhaust heat recovery boiler configured to generate steam by using heat of an exhaust gas from the gas turbine, a temperature reducing apparatus configured to cool, through a cooling medium, the steam generated by the exhaust heat recovery boiler, and a steam turbine configured to be driven by the steam cooled by the temperature reducing apparatus. The plant control apparatus includes an output controller configured to control output of the gas turbine, and a temperature reduction controller configured to control a cooling operation of the steam by the temperature reducing apparatus while the output controller controls the output of the gas turbine.

Method for controlling steam admission into a steam turbine, the turbine comprising a high pressure casing, at least one reduced pressure casing and an admission steam control system, the high pressure casing and at least one reduced pressure casing comprising control valves for steam admission. The steam admission control system manages the following steps: determining at least one of the speed and the acceleration of the turbine; comparing the determined speed and/or acceleration respectively with a predefined speed threshold value and a predefined acceleration threshold value; when the determined speed and/or acceleration are superior to the predefined threshold value, the control system activates a speed and acceleration limiter.

Methods and systems for generating power (and optionally heat) from a high value heat source using a plurality of circulating loops comprising a primary heat transfer loop, several power cycle loops and an intermediate heat transfer loop that transfers heat from the high-temperature heat transfer loop to the several power cycle loops. The intermediate heat transfer loop is arranged to eliminate to the extent practical the shell and tube heat exchangers especially those heat exchangers that have a very large pressure difference between the tube side and shell side, to eliminate shell and tube, plate type, double pipe and similar heat exchangers that transfer heat directly from the primary heat transfer loop to the several power cycle loops with very high differential pressures and to maximize the use of heat transfer coils similar in design as are used in a heat recovery steam generator commonly used to transfer heat from gas turbine flue gas to steam or other power cycle fluids as part of a combined cycle power plant.

In a combined cycle plant, a device for controlling a combined cycle plant, and a method for starting up a combined cycle plant, the time for starting up the combined cycle plant can be shortened by providing: a gas turbine having a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine; a heat recovery steam generator for generating steam by means of the exhaust heat of exhaust gas from the gas turbine. A steam turbine is driven by the steam generated by the heat recovery steam generator; and a control device is configured to set a standby load for the gas turbine during a start-up continuously to change in accordance with a change in metal temperature of the steam turbine.