A method for extracting and storing, respectively, energy in the form of concentration gradients wherein a process of extracting energy comprising the steps of feeding stored gaseous working medium into a working volume (2), compressing the working medium in the working volume (2), spraying a dilute solution into the working volume (2) before or during compression, increasing the temperature of the working medium fed in the working volume (2) by compression, evaporating the dilute solution with the working medium of increased temperature, removing heat from the working medium by the evaporating solution, keeping the heat extracted from the working medium in the form of latent heat of the vapor in the working volume (2), further increasing the temperature of the working medium until the partial pressure of the vapor in it approaches the vapor pressure of a solution of higher concentration at a corresponding temperature, spraying a solution of higher concentration of a vapor pressure of up to 60% of the vapor pressure of the dilute solution into the working medium of an expanding and high solvent vapor content, condensing the vapor in the working volume (2) onto solution droplets of the atomized solution and thereby heating the solution droplets, transferring the heat energy of the heated solution droplets to the working medium through contact surfaces of the solution and the working medium, feeding the heat previously conveyed to the dilute solution vapor during the compression back into the working medium plus as much heat as the condensation heat of the warmer vapor to the solution of higher concentration exceeds the heat of evaporation of the dilute solution, using the heat thus fed for performing work by the expansion of the working medium, obtaining the work performed by the working medium, removing the working medium and the solution from the working volume (2) after the gaseous working medium of low relative humidity is getting into a state near to its initial state, separating the working medium and the solution and returning the working medium to a container (7) for working medium and returning the slightly diluted solution of higher concentration to one of a container (11) for solution of higher concentrations and an additional intermediate container (24). The invention also relates to an apparatus for implementing the method. The invention can be used in all fields, where electric or mechanical energy should be stored for later use, but especially for leveling out the production and consumption differences on electrical power grids.

Systems and methods for improving the efficiency of a power plant exploit the temperature differential of the cooling water that may exist seasonally in some geographic locations. Specifically, new systems and ways of retrofitting existing systems to utilize the additional temperature differential of a power plant's coolant during colder months are provided in order to increase the efficiency of the plant. A second working fluid loop converts a portion of the condenser of the first working fluid loop into the boiler for the second working fluid loop in which the first and second working fluids in these respective loops are different. Thus, the energy output of the plant may be increased by the addition of a selectively operated secondary loop without an increase in fuel consumption.

A boiler unit comprises an enclosure including: a first circuit of a first fluid heat exchange medium, the first circuit having a heating device to heat the first medium, a boost heat exchanger, a valve and a first manifold; a second circuit of a second heating system fluid heat exchange medium, the second circuit having a flow and return port of the boiler unit, a second manifold and said boost heat exchanger for exchange of heat between said first and second heat exchanger media when said valve is open; a space in the enclosure receiving an auxiliary unit to be driven substantially exclusively by said first fluid heat exchange medium; and a boiler control unit to control operation of the heating device according to heat demand of the heating device and otherwise irrespective of the auxiliary unit when connected; and an organic rankine cycle (ORC) unit comprising: a third fluid heat exchange medium circuit, the circuit including a condenser adapted for connection to said second manifold to provide heat to said second circuit, a pump to circulate said third medium, an evaporator adapted for connection to said first manifold to heat said third medium and a rotary expander connected to an electricity generator; and an auxiliary control unit to control the ORC unit and operate said valve.

A boiler unit comprises an enclosure including: a first circuit of a first fluid heat exchange medium, the first circuit having a heating device to heat the first medium, a boost heat exchanger, a valve and a first manifold; a second circuit of a second heating system fluid heat exchange medium, the second circuit having a flow and return port of the boiler unit, a second manifold and said boost heat exchanger for exchange of heat between said first and second heat exchanger media when said valve is open; a space in the enclosure receiving an auxiliary unit to be driven substantially exclusively by said first fluid heat exchange medium; and a boiler control unit to control operation of the heating device according to heat demand of the heating device and otherwise irrespective of the auxiliary unit when connected; and an organic rankine cycle (ORC) unit comprising: a third fluid heat exchange medium circuit, the circuit including a condenser adapted for connection to said second manifold to provide heat to said second circuit, a pump to circulate said third medium, an evaporator adapted for connection to said first manifold to heat said third medium and a rotary expander connected to an electricity generator; and an auxiliary control unit to control the ORC unit and operate said valve.

An electric power generation apparatus (system) and method for high efficiency energy conversion cycle by recycling latent heat of vaporization is disclosed. In one implementation, the present invention enables to achieve an improved efficiency by reducing the amount of waste heat that is rejected into the atmosphere in existing plant cycle designs by creating multiple turbine cycles where the latent heat of vaporization of the first cycle is injected into the input stage of the second cycle and the waste heat (latent heat of vaporization) of the second cycle into the input stage of the third cycle and so on. Only the waste heat of the final cycle is rejected into the atmosphere.

An electric power generation apparatus (system) and method for high efficiency energy conversion cycle by recycling latent heat of vaporization is disclosed. In one implementation, the present invention enables to achieve an improved efficiency by reducing the amount of waste heat that is rejected into the atmosphere in existing plant cycle designs by creating multiple turbine cycles where the latent heat of vaporization of the first cycle is injected into the input stage of the second cycle and the waste heat (latent heat of vaporization) of the second cycle into the input stage of the third cycle and so on. Only the waste heat of the final cycle is rejected into the atmosphere.

Methods and devices for long-duration electricity storage using low-cost thermal energy storage and high-efficiency power cycle, are disclosed. In some embodiments it has the potential for superior long-duration, low-cost energy storage.

The present disclosure is directed to heat recovery systems that employ two or more organic Rankine cycle (ORC) units disposed in series. According to certain embodiments, each ORC unit includes an evaporator that heats an organic working fluid, a turbine generator set that expands the working fluid to generate electricity, a condenser that cools the working fluid, and a pump that returns the working fluid to the evaporator. The heating fluid is directed through each evaporator to heat the working fluid circulating within each ORC unit, and the cooling fluid is directed through each condenser to cool the working fluid circulating within each ORC unit. The heating fluid and the cooling fluid flow through the ORC units in series in the same or opposite directions.

The present disclosure is directed to heat recovery systems that employ two or more organic Rankine cycle (ORC) units disposed in series. According to certain embodiments, each ORC unit includes an evaporator that heats an organic working fluid, a turbine generator set that expands the working fluid to generate electricity, a condenser that cools the working fluid, and a pump that returns the working fluid to the evaporator. The heating fluid is directed through each evaporator to heat the working fluid circulating within each ORC unit, and the cooling fluid is directed through each condenser to cool the working fluid circulating within each ORC unit. The heating fluid and the cooling fluid flow through the ORC units in series in the same or opposite directions.

An organic Rankine cycle system (100, 110, 120) with direct exchange and in cascade comprising a high temperature organic Rankine cycle (10) which carries out the direct heat exchange with a hot source (H) and a low temperature organic Rankine cycle (10′) in thermal communication with the high temperature cycle (10). The organic Rankine cycle system (100, 110, 120) is configured in a way that the thermal communication between the cycles (10, 10′) takes place through at least one heat exchanger (3) configured to use at least the condensation heat of the high temperature cycle to vaporize and/or preheat the working fluid of the low temperature organic Rankine cycle fluid and through a heat exchanger (4) configured to operate as working fluid sub-cooler for the high temperature organic Rankine cycle (10) and as a working fluid preheater for the low temperature organic Rankine cycle (10′).