A system using hybrid Rankine cycles is provided. The system includes a first Rankine cycle system using a first working fluid, the first system producing exergy loss and residual energy from at least one of turbine extraction, turbine condensation and boiler flue gas; and a second Rankine cycle system using a second working fluid to recover the exergy loss and residual energy. The second working fluid comprises a first stream and a second stream, wherein the first stream exchanges heat with the first system via at least one first heat exchanger, and the second stream exchanges heat with the first system via the at least one first heat exchanger and at least one second heat exchanger. A turbine of the first system is configured to allow the first working fluid to exit at a sufficiently high pressure and temperature to provide heat to the second system instead of expanding to a low pressure and temperature and discharging heat to ambient using a condenser.

A system using hybrid Rankine cycles is provided. The system includes a first Rankine cycle system using a first working fluid, the first system producing exergy loss and residual energy from at least one of turbine extraction, turbine condensation and boiler flue gas; and a second Rankine cycle system using a second working fluid to recover the exergy loss and residual energy. The second working fluid comprises a first stream and a second stream, wherein the first stream exchanges heat with the first system via at least one first heat exchanger, and the second stream exchanges heat with the first system via the at least one first heat exchanger and at least one second heat exchanger. A turbine of the first system is configured to allow the first working fluid to exit at a sufficiently high pressure and temperature to provide heat to the second system instead of expanding to a low pressure and temperature and discharging heat to ambient using a condenser.

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.

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.

In one embodiment, an exhaust heat collecting system of collecting exhaust heat in a fluid treatment system. The fluid treatment system includes a fluid path to convey at least an operating fluid or a cooled fluid among first and second heat source fluids, the operating fluid and the cooled fluid. The fluid treatment system further includes a fluid treatment module including an expansion module, a power generator and a condenser for the operating fluid, or including a heat absorbing module and a heat releasing module for the cooled fluid. The exhaust heat collecting system includes a water path to heat water by using the condenser or the heat releasing module, and a heater to heat the water from the water path by using the first or second heat source fluid or the operating fluid to produce the water to be used as hot water or to produce steam.

In one embodiment, an exhaust heat collecting system of collecting exhaust heat in a fluid treatment system. The fluid treatment system includes a fluid path to convey at least an operating fluid or a cooled fluid among first and second heat source fluids, the operating fluid and the cooled fluid. The fluid treatment system further includes a fluid treatment module including an expansion module, a power generator and a condenser for the operating fluid, or including a heat absorbing module and a heat releasing module for the cooled fluid. The exhaust heat collecting system includes a water path to heat water by using the condenser or the heat releasing module, and a heater to heat the water from the water path by using the first or second heat source fluid or the operating fluid to produce the water to be used as hot water or to produce steam.

A system and method for generating electric power using a generator coupled to a turboexpander is disclosed. The system includes one or more thermal pumps configured for heating a fluid to generate a pressurized gas. A portion of the pressurized gas is discharged to a buffer chamber for further utilization in a Rankine system. A further portion of the pressurized gas is expanded in a turboexpander for driving a generator for generating electric power. Optionally, the system includes a pump to pressurize a portion of the fluid depending on the systems operating condition. The system further includes one or more sensors for sensing temperature and pressure and outputs one or more signals representative of the sensed state. The system includes a control unit for receiving the signals and outputs one or more control signals for controlling the flow of gases and liquid in the valves and the check valve.

A system and method for generating electric power using a generator coupled to a turboexpander is disclosed. The system includes one or more thermal pumps configured for heating a fluid to generate a pressurized gas. A portion of the pressurized gas is discharged to a buffer chamber for further utilization in a Rankine system. A further portion of the pressurized gas is expanded in a turboexpander for driving a generator for generating electric power. Optionally, the system includes a pump to pressurize a portion of the fluid depending on the systems operating condition. The system further includes one or more sensors for sensing temperature and pressure and outputs one or more signals representative of the sensed state. The system includes a control unit for receiving the signals and outputs one or more control signals for controlling the flow of gases and liquid in the valves and the check valve.

A method for heat integration between a chemical synthesis plant that runs an exothermic reaction and (ii) and a partner plant that generates a working fluid such as steam (e.g., runs a power cycle). The present disclosure describes both internal and external heat integration. Internal heat integration may provide heat from the exothermic reaction (e.g., from methanol synthesis) to a reboiler associated with a distillation column of the chemical synthesis plant. External heat integration may use heat from the exothermic reaction to preheat a condensed water stream (which stream is downstream from the turbine and condenser of the power cycle). Such reduces the need for bleed off the turbine to preheat condensed water as part of the power cycle. A bleed off the turbine provides heat to the reboiler associated with the distillation column of the chemical synthesis plant. Heat integration provides overall improved energy use within both plants.

A method and system for modulating vapor and liquid fractions of a cycling liquid-vapor fluid operating within its phase transition envelope by creating forced oscillating heat transfer between liquid and vapor fractions of the cycling stream. A liquid stream segment is expansion cooled and brought into thermal communication with a vapor stream segment. The contact with the expansion- cooled liquid enables intermolecular forces to drive condensation and release condensation heat at a condensation temperature higher than the temperature of the expansion-cooled stream segment. The resulting temperature gradient enables the expansion-cooled segment held at constant volume to capture the condensation heat and isochorically vaporize into a vapor stream segment that again is forced to condense so as to form an oscillating thermal cycle within the cycling liquid-vapor fluid