A system includes a pressure exchanger (PX) configured to receive a first fluid at a first pressure, receive a second fluid at a second pressure, and exchange pressure between the first fluid and the second fluid. The first fluid is to exit the PX at a third pressure and the second fluid is to exit the PX at a fourth pressure. The system further includes a first heat exchanger configured to provide the first fluid to the PX and provide corresponding thermal energy from the first fluid to a third fluid. The system further includes a turbine configured to receive the third fluid output from the first heat exchanger. The turbine is further configured to convert corresponding thermal energy of the third fluid into kinetic energy.

A fluid handling system includes a pressure exchanger (PX) configured to receive a first fluid at a first pressure and a second fluid at a second pressure and exchange pressure between the first fluid and the second fluid. The system further includes a condenser configured to provide corresponding thermal energy from the first fluid to a corresponding environment. The system further includes a receiver to receive the first fluid output by the PX. The receiver forms a chamber to separate the first fluid into a first gas and a first liquid. The system further includes a first booster to increase pressure of a portion of the first gas to form the second fluid at the second pressure and provide the second fluid at the second pressure to the PX.

An energy storage system is disclosed. The energy storage system includes a turbo train drive, a hot heat sink, and a reservoir. The turbo train drive is in mechanical communication with a compressor and an expander. The hot heat sink is in thermal communication between an output of the compressor and an input of the expander. The reservoir is in thermal communication between an output of the expander and an input of the compressor. The compressor and the expander, via the turbo train drive, are operable between a charging function for charging the hot heat sink and a discharging function for discharging the hot heat sink.

An energy storage system is disclosed. The energy storage system includes a turbo train drive, a hot heat sink, and a reservoir. The turbo train drive is in mechanical communication with a compressor and an expander. The hot heat sink is in thermal communication between an output of the compressor and an input of the expander. The reservoir is in thermal communication between an output of the expander and an input of the compressor. The compressor and the expander, via the turbo train drive, are operable between a charging function for charging the hot heat sink and a discharging function for discharging the hot heat sink.

A converting device arranged to transfer thermodynamic energy of a compressed working fluid into electrical energy. The converting unit is comprised of at least one cylinder which encloses a piston. In an embodiment, said at least one piston is provided with a magnetic portion. A ferromagnetic coil surrounds the piston and is integrated with the cylinder. As the piston moves through the coil, electrical energy is generated.

A turbo economizer adapted to be used in a chiller system includes a nozzle, a turbine, and an economizer impeller. The nozzle introduces refrigerant into the turbo economizer. The turbine is disposed downstream of the nozzle, and the turbine is attached to a shaft rotatable about a rotation axis. A flow of the refrigerant introduced through the nozzle drives the turbine to rotate the shaft. The economizer impeller is attached to the shaft so as to be rotated in accordance with rotation of the shaft. In the turbo economizer, the nozzle reduces a pressure of the refrigerant such that a pressure of the refrigerant entering the turbo economizer is lower than a predetermined pressure, at least some of the refrigerant passes through the nozzle is introduced into the economizer impeller, and the economizer impeller increases a pressure of the refrigerant introduced thereinto to the predetermined pressure.

In various embodiments, a system and method are provided for storing a liquid mixed refrigerant (MR) separated and stored as Low boiling point (LBP) and high boiling point (HBP) components. These storage components are later used in conjunction with heating and/or cooling sources in effecting the operation of a Rankine cycle to generate electric or mechanical power on a dispatch or when needed basis. The MR is reconstituted by combining the LBP and HBP. In a cycle, the LBP and HBP are later separated from the MR utilizing sporadically available energy sources (for example, solar, wind, hydro, etc.) or consistently available sources (for example geothermal).

A fluid handling system includes a pressure exchanger (PX) configured to receive a first fluid at a first pressure and a second fluid at a second pressure and exchange pressure between the first fluid and the second fluid. The system further includes a condenser configured to provide corresponding thermal energy from the first fluid to a corresponding environment. The system further includes a receiver to receive the first fluid output by the PX. The receiver forms a chamber to separate the first fluid into a first gas and a first liquid. The system further includes a first booster to increase pressure of a portion of the first gas to form the second fluid at the second pressure and provide the second fluid at the second pressure to the PX.

A cooling subsystem of a fuel cell assembly that employs the Rankine cycle to use the potential energy of a thermally pressurized fluid to generate electrical power. Waste heat from a fuel cell stack is transferred to working fluid in a heat exchanger. The working fluid in the condensed phase is pressurized, evaporated in a boiler or evaporator, and then fed to an expansion turbine which in turn provides rotary motion to an electric generator to generate useful electrical power. The fluid leaves the turbine as a lower pressured vapor, and is then condensed back to a fluid and pumped back to the evaporator to repeat the process.

An air conditioning system includes a compressor and a refrigerant line. A power generating unit may be disposed along the refrigerant line to generate power from the heat in the refrigerant line while helping to convert hot compressed refrigerant gas into a hot high-pressure refrigerant liquid. An air conditioning system may also involve using a cooling chamber to use refrigerant to cool a heat exchange medium which is then used in a cooling coil to condition air.