Provided herein is a power generation system and method for transforming thermal energy, such as waste heat, into mechanical energy and/or electrical energy. The system employs features designed to accelerate start times, reduce size, lower cost, and be more environmentally friendly. Tire system may include multiple compressors on separate pinion shafts with multiple expanders, a temperature valve upstream of compressors with a mass management system downstream, an intercooler between compressors, and a cascade exchanger. In one embodiment, the system is configured to drive a synchronous generator, with the separate pinion shafts rotating at two separate, but constant, speeds.

A processing facility is provided. The processing facility includes an asphaltenes and metals (AM) removal system configured to process a feed stream to produce a power generation stream, a hydroprocessing feed stream, and an asphaltenes stream. A power generation system is fed by the power generation feed stream. A hydroprocessing system is configured to process the hydroprocessing feed stream to form a gas stream and a liquid stream. A hydrogen production system is configured to produce hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide from the gas feed stream. A carbon dioxide conversion system is configured to produce synthetic hydrocarbons from the carbon dioxide, and a cracking system is configured to process the liquid feed stream.

The present application discloses a method of determining one or more fuel characteristics of an aviation fuel suitable for powering a gas turbine engine of an aircraft. The method comprises: determining, during use of the gas turbine engine, one or more exhaust content parameters by performing a sensor measurement on an exhaust of the gas turbine engine; and determining one or more fuel characteristics of the fuel based on the one or more exhaust parameters including the nvPM content of the exhaust. Also disclosed is a fuel characteristic determination system, a method of operating an aircraft, and an aircraft.

A system includes a power cycle and a cooling cycle. The power cycle includes a first compressor, a recuperative heat exchanger, a waste-heat heat exchanger, and a turbine. The turbine includes a drive shaft coupled to the first compressor. The working fluid from the waste-heat heat exchanger drives the turbine, the drive shaft, and the first compressor. The recuperative heat exchanger cools the working fluid from the turbine, and at least one ram-air heat exchanger further cools the working fluid from the recuperative heat exchanger. The first compressor is configured to pressurize the working fluid from the at least one ram-air heat exchanger. The cooling cycle includes a pump, an isenthalpic valve, an ambient air heat exchanger, and a second compressor. The cooling cycle cools the working fluid and ambient air and is connected to the power cycle in the at least one ram-air heat exchanger.

An energy storage and retrieval system is disclosed. The system includes a heat generating layer for generating thermal energy based on combusting a combustible substance and a thermal energy storage layer located to receive thermal energy from the heat generating layer. The thermal energy storage layer includes a thermal energy storage material to store thermal energy. The system also includes a thermal energy retrieval layer thermally connectable to the thermal energy storage material and configurable to retrieve thermal energy from the thermal energy storage layer.

A method of determining one or more fuel characteristic of an aviation fuel suitable for powering a gas turbine engine of an aircraft is disclosed. The method includes: determining, during use of the gas turbine engine, one or more contrail parameters related to contrail formation by the gas turbine engine. The determining of the one or more contrail parameters includes performing a sensor measurement on a region behind the gas turbine engine in which a contrail is or can be formed. The method also includes determining one or more fuel characteristics of the fuel based on the one or more contrail parameters. A fuel characteristic determination system, a method of operating an aircraft and an aircraft are also disclosed.

A method of operating an aircraft including a gas turbine engine and a plurality of fuel tanks arranged to provide fuel to the gas turbine engine. At least two of the fuel tanks contain fuels with different fuel characteristics. The method includes obtaining a flight profile for a portion of a flight of the aircraft; and determining a fueling schedule for the portion of the flight based on the flight profile and the fuel characteristics, the fueling schedule governing the variation with time of how much fuel is drawn from each tank. Fuel input to the gas turbine engine may then be controlled in operation in accordance with the fueling schedule.

There are provided systems and methods for using fuel-rich partial oxidation to produce an end product from waste gases, such as flare gas. In an embodiment, the system and method use air-breathing piston engines and turbine engines for the fuel-rich partial oxidation of the flare gas to form synthesis gas, and reactors to convert the synthesis gas into the end product. In an embodiment the end product is methanol.

A method of operating an aircraft including a gas turbine engine and a plurality of fuel tanks arranged to provide fuel to the gas turbine engine, where at least two of the fuel tanks contain fuels with different fuel characteristics. The method includes obtaining a flight profile for a flight of the aircraft; and determining a fuelling schedule for the flight based on the flight profile and the fuel characteristics. The fuelling schedule governs the variation with time of how much fuel is drawn from each tank. Fuel input to the gas turbine engine may then be controlled in operation in accordance with the fuelling schedule.

An integrated chemical looping combustion (CLC) electrical power generation system and method for diesel fuel combining four primary units including: gasification of diesel to ensure complete conversion of fuel, chemical looping combustion with supported nickel-based oxygen carrier on alumina, gas turbine-based power generation and steam turbine-based power generation is described. An external combustion and a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) are employed to maximize the efficiency of a gas turbine generator and steam turbine generator. The integrated CLC system provides a clean and efficient diesel fueled power generation plant with high CO.sub.2 recovery.