A pumped hydro energy storage system and method are disclosed. The system employs a high-density fluid, such as a slurry, to improve power output. In some cases, the fluid is a binary fluid system, with a high-density fluid and a lower-density fluid, such as water. The lower-density fluid flows through the turbine unit of the system, avoiding the need to modify the system to handle the high-density fluid, while achieving improved power output. The system can be configured with one atmospheric reservoir for a higher-density fluid and another one for a lighter-density fluid. Each of them is connected to a pressurized cavity which is filled with the higher-density or lighter-density fluid. The atmospheric tanks may be at the same elevation, or the tank with high density fluid might be higher for increased energy output. For example, the system may be placed on a topographical elevation.

An energy conversion system comprising: a riser conduit comprising a first liquid; a down-comer comprising a second liquid, the down-comer in fluid communication with the riser conduit, the second liquid comprising first liquid and finely divided material in suspension such that the second liquid has a higher specific gravity than the first liquid, the down-comer in fluid communication with a first tank and a second tank; a converter device arranged to convert energy of the first liquid into energy for output from the energy conversion system, and to discharge the first liquid thereafter; and a recirculator arranged to recirculate third liquid to maintain the finely divided material in suspension, the third liquid comprising second liquid and further finely divided material in suspension. The recirculator is arranged to discharge the third liquid to mix with the first liquid from the converter device to form the second liquid. The first tank and the second tank are arranged between the converter device and the down-comer, to receive the first liquid discharged from the converter and to supply the first liquid to the down-comer. Supply of first liquid to the first and second tanks is in use regulated to maintain the height of liquid in the first and second tanks below a predetermined threshold.

A system and method of generating electricity. A work string extends into a wellbore. A heat pump unit at a surface location circulates a working fluid through the work string to absorb heat from a formation surrounding the wellbore. A turbine generates a rotation from the working fluid that has absorbed the heat. A generator generates electricity from the rotation of the turbine. The electricity is transmitted to the surface location via an electrical cable.

A supercritical CO2 turbo-generator system is disclosed. The turbo-generator system comprises: a plurality of turbine generator units (200A-200C), a direct current bus (410), a plurality of active rectifiers (290A-290C), and a voltage controller (280). Each of plurality of turbine generator units comprises: a turbine (312) with a supercritical CO2 input and a supercritical CO2 output, a generator (326) with an electrical input and power output, a shaft (314) connecting the turbine and generator, and a speed sensor (327) for determining a speed of the associated shaft. The plurality of turbine generator units are connected in the form of a cascading series with the input of a first turbine generator unit (200A) connected to a source of heated supercritical CO2. The input of a second turbine generator unit (200B) is connected to the output of the first turbine generator unit. The input of a third turbine generator unit (200C) is connected to the output of the second turbine generator unit. The voltage controller (280) is configured to monitor the speed sensor (327) of each of the plurality of turbine generator units and vary the load on each generator (230A-230C) to control shaft (314) speed. Each of the plurality of active rectifiers (290A-290C) then converts the power output of a generator (230A-230C) to direct current, and the power from the plurality of active rectifiers then combined by the direct current bus.

A replacement tube for a manifold is provided. The replacement tube includes a closed cell foam and a reinforcement strip. The closed cell foam is formed in a cylindrical tube and flexible to absorb pressure pulsations in a chamber of a suction manifold or in another device. The reinforcement strip is fixed along a length of the closed cell foam to support the closed cell foam from flexing and collapsing along the length of the closed cell foam.

A specially designed rotary actuator comprising a sealed container and a piston rotor located in the sealed container. The piston rotor divides the sealed container into a first space and a second space having different pressures. The first end of the piston rotor faces the first space and includes a plurality of first bores, and the second end of the piston rotor faces the second space and includes a plurality of second bores. The depth of the first and second bores is less than the thickness of the piston rotor. Each of the first and second bores comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the surface area of the first portion is greater than the surface area of the second portion.

A specially designed rotary actuator comprising a sealed container and a piston rotor located in the sealed container. The piston rotor divides the sealed container into a first space and a second space having different pressures. The first end of the piston rotor faces the first space and includes a plurality of first bores, and the second end of the piston rotor faces the second space and includes a plurality of second bores. The depth of the first and second bores is less than the thickness of the piston rotor. Each of the first and second bores comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the surface area of the first portion is greater than the surface area of the second portion.

A device is provided having a fermentation chamber having one or more inlets to receive a mixed stream to be fermented and an outlet to release fermented product; a distillation vessel surrounding the fermentation chamber having communication with the fermentation chamber outlet to receive fermented product to be distilled and a turbine located within the outlet of the fermentation chamber, the turbine having a rotor rotatable by force of flow of fermented product from the fermentation chamber to the distillation vessel, to generate electricity. A sidewall common to both the fermentation chamber and distillation vessel allows for heat transfer of heat generated from fermentation to the distillation vessel to heat the product to be distilled. A method of fermenting and distilling a product is also provided. The method involves receiving in a fermentation chamber a mixed stream to be fermented; transferring heat energy generated by fermentation to a distillation vessel surrounding the fermentation chamber; allowing pressurized fermented product to flow from the fermentation chamber into the distillation vessel via a turbine and rotating a rotor of the turbine by a force of flow of the fermented product to the distiller to generate electricity.

An energy conversion system comprising: a riser conduit comprising a first liquid; a down-comer comprising a second liquid, the down-comer in fluid communication with the riser conduit, the second liquid comprising first liquid and finely divided material in suspension such that the second liquid has a higher specific gravity than the first liquid, the down-comer in fluid communication with a first tank and a second tank; a converter device arranged to convert energy of the first liquid into energy for output from the energy conversion system, and to discharge the first liquid thereafter; and a recirculator arranged to recirculate third liquid to maintain the finely divided material in suspension, the third liquid comprising second liquid and further finely divided material in suspension. The recirculator is arranged to discharge the third liquid to mix with the first liquid from the converter device to form the second liquid. The first tank and the second tank are arranged between the converter device and the down-comer, to receive the first liquid discharged from the converter and to supply the first liquid to the down-comer. Supply of first liquid to the first and second tanks is in use regulated to maintain the height of liquid in the first and second tanks below a predetermined threshold.

A replacement tube for a manifold is provided. The replacement tube includes a closed cell foam and a reinforcement strip. The closed cell foam is formed in a cylindrical tube and flexible to absorb pressure pulsations in a chamber of a suction manifold or in another device. The reinforcement strip is fixed along a length of the closed cell foam to support the closed cell foam from flexing and collapsing along the length of the closed cell foam.