Systems and methods for cooling a power generation working fluid are disclosed that reduce the amount of cooling fluid used. These systems and methods save on water usage in the generation of power by thermoelectric power generation systems.

A thermal energy storage system includes a phase change composition including a phase change material. The phase change composition has a first melting temperature at a first hydration level and a second melting temperature at a second hydration level. The phase change composition stores thermal energy by converting from a solid to a liquid. The thermal energy storage system also includes at least one compartment containing the phase change composition and at least one tuning medium receiving water to adjust the phase change composition from the first hydration level to the second hydration level and supplying water to adjust the phase change composition from the second hydration level to the first hydration level. A method of storing and releasing thermal energy is also disclosed.

A system and method for providing dry cooling of a coolant in a directed energy system, having a plurality of heat exchangers which depolymerize and polymerize a polymer. Specifically, the depolymerization process is endothermic and draws heat from a source liquid in a first heat exchanger, and the polymerization process is exothermic and expels heat from a second heat exchanger. Additional heat exchangers and holding tanks may be incorporated in the system and method. Pumps having adjustable volumetric flow may be incorporated and provide customized cooling and energy draw.

A system and method for providing dry cooling of a coolant in a directed energy system, having a plurality of heat exchangers which depolymerize and polymerize a polymer. Specifically, the depolymerization process is endothermic and draws heat from a source liquid in a first heat exchanger, and the polymerization process is exothermic and expels heat from a second heat exchanger. Additional heat exchangers and holding tanks may be incorporated in the system and method. Pumps having adjustable volumetric flow may be incorporated and provide customized cooling and energy draw.

A dry-cooling system useful in absorbing heat from a heat source and related dry cooling methods including a depolymerization cooling unit (DCU) in fluid communication with a polymerization heating unit (PHU). The DCU includes a DCU heat exchanger which receives a polymer and a catalyst, wherein contact of the polymer and the catalyst within the DCU heat exchanger causes an endothermic reaction, converting the polymer to a monomer and drawing heat from a first heat source. The monomer is then withdrawn from the DCU. The PHU includes a PHU heat exchanger, which receives the monomer, wherein contact of the monomer with the catalyst causes an exothermic reaction within the PHU heat exchanger, converting the monomer to the polymer. The polymer is then withdrawn from the PHU for conveyance back to the DCU, and the cycle is repeated.

A dry-cooling system useful in absorbing heat from a heat source and related dry cooling methods including a depolymerization cooling unit (DCU) in fluid communication with a polymerization heating unit (PHU). The DCU includes a DCU heat exchanger which receives a polymer and a catalyst, wherein contact of the polymer and the catalyst within the DCU heat exchanger causes an endothermic reaction, converting the polymer to a monomer and drawing heat from a first heat source. The monomer is then withdrawn from the DCU. The PHU includes a PHU heat exchanger, which receives the monomer, wherein contact of the monomer with the catalyst causes an exothermic reaction within the PHU heat exchanger, converting the monomer to the polymer. The polymer is then withdrawn from the PHU for conveyance back to the DCU, and the cycle is repeated.

A power plant (1) has an energy converter (3) for converting heat energy to another form of energy with use of a working fluid, and a heat exchanger (4) for rejecting heat from working fluid. A secondary circuit (6) provides coolant to the heat exchanger (4). The secondary circuit (6) includes a heat store (7) arranged to store coolant, a secondary heat exchanger (8), a coolant diverter (12), and a controller configured to route coolant from the working fluid heat exchanger (4) to the heat store (7) in order to reject heat to the store, or to the secondary heat exchanger (8). It chooses between these according to which provides more effective heat rejection from the coolant, and possible other factors. Typically, the controller uses the heat store during daytime and the secondary heat exchanger during night time. This means that heat working fluid is rejecting heat during day time at a temperature of the night time, thereby achieving improved plant efficiency.

In one embodiment, a cooling system may include a thermosyphon cooler that cools a cooling fluid through dry cooling and a cooling tower that cools a cooling fluid through evaporative cooling. The thermosyphon cooler may use natural convection to circulate a refrigerant between a shell and tube evaporator and an air cooled condenser. The thermosyphon cooler may be located in the cooling system upstream of, and in series with, the cooling tower, and may be operated when the thermosyphon cooler is more economically and/or resource efficient to operate than the cooling tower. According to certain embodiments, factors, such as the ambient temperature, the cost of electricity, and the cost of water, among others, may be used to determine whether to operate the thermosyphon cooler, the cooling tower, or both.

In one embodiment, a cooling system may include a thermosyphon cooler that cools a cooling fluid through dry cooling and a cooling tower that cools a cooling fluid through evaporative cooling. The thermosyphon cooler may use natural convection to circulate a refrigerant between a shell and tube evaporator and an air cooled condenser. The thermosyphon cooler may be located in the cooling system upstream of, and in series with, the cooling tower, and may be operated when the thermosyphon cooler is more economically and/or resource efficient to operate than the cooling tower. According to certain embodiments, factors, such as the ambient temperature, the cost of electricity, and the cost of water, among others, may be used to determine whether to operate the thermosyphon cooler, the cooling tower, or both.

A system and method of optimizing water cooling system energy efficiency, including a monitoring device to receive heat data corresponding to heat energy of a unit of water associated with a recirculating water system, power data corresponding to power being applied to the system, and load data corresponding to a load associated with the system. The monitoring device determines a measured metric by calculating a measured rate of water traversing the recirculating water system based on the heat data and determining a ratio of the power data and the measured rate of water. The monitoring device determines an efficiency metric of the system by comparing the load data to a look-up table and, based thereon, calculates a key performance indicator of the recirculating water system as a ratio of the efficiency metric and the measured metric, which is output to a graphical user interface.