F02C1/105

Grid scale energy storage systems using reheated air turbine or gas turbine expanders
10364743 · 2019-07-30 · ·

Electrical power systems, including generating capacity of a gas turbine, where additional power is generated from an air expander and gas turbine simultaneously from a stored compressed air and thermal system.

Closed-loop thermal cycle expander bypass flow control

A closed loop thermal cycle expander bypass flow control is described. An expander is positioned within and surrounded by a housing to receive a working fluid and rotate in response to expansion of the working fluid flowing through the expander. A bypass channel is positioned within and surrounded by the housing to define a fluid flow path that bypasses the expander. A fluid flow control sub-assembly is fluidically coupled to the expander and the bypass channel, and attached to the housing. The fluid flow control sub-assembly can receive the working fluid at a housing inlet and either flow the working fluid through the expander and block the working fluid from flowing through the bypass channel, or flow the working fluid through the housing bypassing the expander, flow the working fluid out via a housing outlet, and block the working fluid from flowing through the expander.

Use of External Air for Closed Cycle Inventory Control
20190162122 · 2019-05-30 ·

Systems and methods relating to use of external air for inventory control of a closed thermodynamic cycle system or energy storage system, such as a reversible Brayton cycle system, are disclosed. A method may involve, in a closed cycle system operating in a power generation mode, circulating a working fluid may through a closed cycle fluid path. The closed cycle fluid path may include a high pressure leg and a low pressure leg. The method may further involve in response to a demand for increased power generation, compressing and dehumidifying environmental air. And the method may involve injecting the compressed and dehumidified environmental air into the low pressure leg.

Variable pressure inventory control of closed cycle system with a high pressure tank and an intermediate pressure tank
12012902 · 2024-06-18 · ·

Systems and methods for variable pressure inventory control of a closed thermodynamic cycle power generation system or energy storage system, such as a reversible Brayton cycle system, with at least a high pressure tank and an intermediate pressure tank are disclosed. Operational parameters of the system such as working fluid pressure, turbine torque, turbine RPM, generator torque, generator RPM, and current, voltage, phase, frequency, and/or quantity of electrical power generated and/or distributed by the generator may be the basis for controlling a quantity of working fluid that circulates through a closed cycle fluid path of the system.

Power generation system with rotary liquid piston compressor for transcritical and supercritical compression of fluids
12012974 · 2024-06-18 · ·

A system includes a rotary liquid piston compressor configured to exchange pressure between a liquid and a supercritical fluid. The rotary liquid piston compressor includes a rotor configured to exchange pressure between the liquid and the supercritical fluid as the rotor rotates. The rotor defines channels that extend through the rotor. The rotary liquid piston compressor further includes barriers configured to block mixing between the liquid and the supercritical fluid. The barriers rest within the rotor. Each channel of the channels is configured to receive a barrier of the barriers.

CLOSED-LOOP THERMAL CYCLE EXPANDER BYPASS FLOW CONTROL
20190120137 · 2019-04-25 · ·

A closed loop thermal cycle expander bypass flow control is described. An expander is positioned within and surrounded by a housing to receive a working fluid and rotate in response to expansion of the working fluid flowing through the expander. A bypass channel is positioned within and surrounded by the housing to define a fluid flow path that bypasses the expander. A fluid flow control sub-assembly is fluidically coupled to the expander and the bypass channel, and attached to the housing. The fluid flow control sub-assembly can receive the working fluid at a housing inlet and either flow the working fluid through the expander and block the working fluid from flowing through the bypass channel, or flow the working fluid through the housing bypassing the expander, flow the working fluid out via a housing outlet, and block the working fluid from flowing through the expander.

Single working-medium vapor combined cycle and vapor power device for combined cycle
20190112949 · 2019-04-18 ·

The single working-medium vapor combined cycle and the vapor power device for combined cycle is provided in this invitation and belongs to the field of energy and power technology. The condenser connects the mixing evaporator by a condensate pipeline via the circulating pump and the preheater, the expander connects the mixing evaporator by a vapor channel via the middle-temperature evaporator, the mixing evaporator connects the compressor and the second expander by a vapor channel, the compressor connects the expander by a vapor channel via the high-temperature heat exchanger, the second expander connects the condenser by a vapor channel; the condenser connects the middle-temperature evaporator by a condensate pipeline via the second circulating pump and a second preheater, the middle-temperature evaporator connects the third expander and the condenser by a vapor channel; the high-temperature heat exchanger, the middle-temperature evaporator, the mixing evaporator, the preheater and the second preheater connects the external part by a working-medium channel of the heat source, the expander connects the compressor and transfers power, the expander, the second expander and the third expander connects the external part and output power, in summary, these above-mentioned equipment and pipelines build up the vapor power device for combined cycle.

Use of external air for closed cycle inventory control
10221775 · 2019-03-05 · ·

Systems and methods relating to use of external air for inventory control of a closed thermodynamic cycle system or energy storage system, such as a reversible Brayton cycle system, are disclosed. A method may involve, in a closed cycle system operating in a power generation mode, circulating a working fluid may through a closed cycle fluid path. The closed cycle fluid path may include a high pressure leg and a low pressure leg. The method may further involve in response to a demand for increased power generation, compressing and dehumidifying environmental air. And the method may involve injecting the compressed and dehumidified environmental air into the low pressure leg.

Turbine power generation system having emergency operation means, and emergency operation method therefor

Discloses is a turbine power generation system having an emergency operation means and an emergency operation method therefor that are capable of controlling excess heat accumulated during emergency operation, and recycling the accumulated heat. A turbine power generation system includes: an inlet sensor part including a thermometer, a pressure gauge, and a flowmeter that are installed between the heater and the inlet valve and; an emergency discharge part including a branch pipe connected to the steam, and a heat control means installed on the branch pipe. Accordingly, the system and the method are capable of reducing a heat overload during an emergency operation by transferring a heat amount exchanged in the heat storage device to the heat consuming facility, minimizing thermal consumption by recycling the same, and preventing various problems caused by stopping an operation of the turbine power generation system.

Rotary closed-cycle externally-heated engine
12098673 · 2024-09-24 ·

Disclosed is an apparatus, system, and method, by which a difference in the thermal energies, and/or temperatures, of two bodies, materials, gases, liquids, solids, objects, and/or other groups or collections of matter, may be harnessed to provide mechanical energy to a rotary engine and/or shaft. Also disclosed is an apparatus, system, and method, by which mechanical energy (e.g., the rotation of a shaft) may be used to produce and/or amplify a difference in the thermal energies, and/or temperatures of, and/or between, two bodies, materials, gases, liquids, solids, objects, and/or other groups or collections of matter. The disclosed thermal-to-mechanical energy conversion apparatus, as well as the complementary mechanical-to-thermal energy conversion apparatus, lacks moving parts and therefore satisfies a previously unmet need for a simple, robust, and efficient heat engine.