The present invention relates to apparatus, systems, and methods of managing large quantities of low-grade waste heat energy by generating excess electrical power via an ORC process driven by the removal and recovery of waste heat under favorable operating conditions, and utilizing the same apparatus to provide waste heat removal via a refrigeration process that consumes electrical power when environmental conditions do not permit operation in the ORC mode. The mode of operation of the system is principally determined by the thermal energy of the waste heat stream and the availability, or lack thereof, of adequate cooling resources. Such resources are often subject to local environmental conditions, particularly ambient temperature which varies on a diurnal and annual basis.

The present invention relates to apparatus, systems, and methods of managing large quantities of low-grade waste heat energy by generating excess electrical power via an ORC process driven by the removal and recovery of waste heat under favorable operating conditions, and utilizing the same apparatus to provide waste heat removal via a refrigeration process that consumes electrical power when environmental conditions do not permit operation in the ORC mode. The mode of operation of the system is principally determined by the thermal energy of the waste heat stream and the availability, or lack thereof, of adequate cooling resources. Such resources are often subject to local environmental conditions, particularly ambient temperature which varies on a diurnal and annual basis.

System (2) for carrying out a gas based thermodynamic cycle in which a gas is compressed in at least one compressor (8) in one part of the cycle and is expanded in at least one expander (10) operating simultaneously in an upstream or downstream part of the cycle, wherein the change in absolute internal power with gas mass flow rate differs as between the compressor and the expander and wherein the system comprises a control system configured to make selective adjustments so as individually to control, either directly or indirectly, the respective gas mass flow rates through each of the compressor and expander. The system may be an energy storage system including a pumped heat energy storage system configured to provide independent graduated control of system pressure and output power by selective adjustment of the respective gas mass flow rates through each half-engine.

The invention relates to a compression and expansion machine comprising a body (12a) with at least one chamber (12) of revolution about an axis of symmetry, and pistons (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) rotating about the axis of symmetry and dividing the chamber into cells (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d) rotating with the pistons, said machine furthermore comprising a device (22) for coordinating the movement of said pistons and configured so that, during one rotation cycle, each cell (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d) performs at least one first expansion/contraction cycle corresponding to a stage of compressing a first stream of gas passing through this cell and at least one second expansion/contraction cycle corresponding to a stage of expanding a second stream of gas passing through this cell.

A Rankine Expander System that converts low quality heat (heat usually at temperatures below 400 degrees Celsius) to electricity by using the properties of trans-critical CO.sub.2. The system is comprised of a compressor, an expander, three heat exchangers, and a permanent magnet alternator (PMA). It operates at pressures and temperatures that hold the CO.sub.2 above its critical point for the full cycle, and as such, attains high efficiencies even at low power. Under some conditions the efficiency can exceed 50%.

An improved heat engine that includes an organic refrigerant exhibiting a boiling point below 35 C.; a heat source having a temperature of less than 82 C.; a heat sink; a sealed, closed-loop path for the organic refrigerant, the sealed, closed-loop path having both a high-pressure zone that absorbs heat from the heat source, and a low-pressure zone that transfers heat to the heat sink; a positive-displacement decompressor providing a pressure gradient through which the organic refrigerant in the gaseous phase flows continuously from the high-pressure zone to the low-pressure zone, the positive-displacement decompressor extracting mechanical energy due to the pressure gradient; and a positive-displacement hydraulic pump, which provides continuous flow of the organic refrigerant in the liquid phase from the low-pressure zone to the high-pressure zone, the hydraulic pump and the positive-displacement decompressor maintaining a pressure differential between the two zones of between about 20 to 42 bar.

An improved heat engine that includes an organic refrigerant exhibiting a boiling point below 35 C.; a heat source having a temperature of less than 82 C.; a heat sink; a sealed, closed-loop path for the organic refrigerant, the sealed, closed-loop path having both a high-pressure zone that absorbs heat from the heat source, and a low-pressure zone that transfers heat to the heat sink; a positive-displacement decompressor providing a pressure gradient through which the organic refrigerant in the gaseous phase flows continuously from the high-pressure zone to the low-pressure zone, the positive-displacement decompressor extracting mechanical energy due to the pressure gradient; and a positive-displacement hydraulic pump, which provides continuous flow of the organic refrigerant in the liquid phase from the low-pressure zone to the high-pressure zone, the hydraulic pump and the positive-displacement decompressor maintaining a pressure differential between the two zones of between about 20 to 42 bar.

A parallel motion heat energy power machine and a working method thereof, includes a heat collector, an insulating pipe, a gasification reactor, an atomizer, a cylinder, a piston, a piston ring, an automatic exhaust valve, a cooler, a liquid storage tank, a pressure pump, a push-pull rod, an insulating layer, and a housing. The two cylinders are oppositely arranged on the housing in parallel. The piston is arranged inside the cylinder. The piston is provided with the piston ring. The pistons are arranged on both ends of the push-pull rod. The heat collector is connected to the gasification reactor through the insulating pipe. The atomizer is arranged on the air inlet end of the gasification reactor. The parallel motion heat energy power machine and working method thereof has a high heat-energy conversion efficiency. It is energy-saving, environmentally friendly, and less noisy.

The present invention relates to a drive unit (1), usable, in particular, for the construction of heat engines designed to use thermodynamic cycles of the Rankine, Rankine-Hirn, Brayton and Stirling type, comprising a casing (2) delimiting therein an annular chamber (12), two triads of pistons (7a-7b-7c; 9a-9b-9c) rotatably housed in the casing of the annular cylinder (or toroidal cylinder), a three-shaft movement system (18) configured to transmit motion from and/or to the two triads of pistons; wherein said system comprises a primary shaft (17), a first secondary shaft (19) and a second secondary shaft (20), and each secondary shaft is connected to a respective triad of pistons (7a-7b-7c; 9a-9b-9c); the rotation of the primary shaft having a constant angular velocity determines a periodic cyclic variation in the angular velocity of rotation of the two secondary shafts. The invention further relates to a heat engine (29), comprising the aforesaid drive unit (1), configured so as to carry out a Rankine or Rankine-Hirn thermodynamic cycle, capable of producing electrical energy and heat usable for any purpose; the same invention further relates to a heat engine (51), comprising the aforesaid drive unit (1), configured so as to carry out a new pulsating heat cycle derived from the Stirling Stirling cycle and capable of producing electrical energy and heat usable for any purpose; the same invention further relates to a pneumatic motor (61) comprising the aforesaid drive unit (1), configured so as to transform the compressed air at high pressure, contained in a tank, into mechanical energy usable for any purpose.

The present invention relates to a drive unit (1), usable, in particular, for the construction of heat engines designed to use thermodynamic cycles of the Rankine, Rankine-Hirn, Brayton and Stirling type, comprising a casing (2) delimiting therein an annular chamber (12), two triads of pistons (7a-7b-7c; 9a-9b-9c) rotatably housed in the casing of the annular cylinder (or toroidal cylinder), a three-shaft movement system (18) configured to transmit motion from and/or to the two triads of pistons; wherein said system comprises a primary shaft (17), a first secondary shaft (19) and a second secondary shaft (20), and each secondary shaft is connected to a respective triad of pistons (7a-7b-7c; 9a-9b-9c); the rotation of the primary shaft having a constant angular velocity determines a periodic cyclic variation in the angular velocity of rotation of the two secondary shafts. The invention further relates to a heat engine (29), comprising the aforesaid drive unit (1), configured so as to carry out a Rankine or Rankine-Hirn thermodynamic cycle, capable of producing electrical energy and heat usable for any purpose; the same invention further relates to a heat engine (51), comprising the aforesaid drive unit (1), configured so as to carry out a new pulsating heat cycle derived from the Stirling Stirling cycle and capable of producing electrical energy and heat usable for any purpose; the same invention further relates to a pneumatic motor (61) comprising the aforesaid drive unit (1), configured so as to transform the compressed air at high pressure, contained in a tank, into mechanical energy usable for any purpose.