According to an aspect, a vapor powered apparatus for generating electric power includes a liquid chamber that contains a working fluid and a first heat exchanger that transfers heat from fluid coming from a heat source to working fluid coming from the liquid chamber, where the transferred heat vaporizes at least a portion of the working fluid to provide a working pressure of the vaporized working fluid. The apparatus includes a pressure motor to convert the working pressure of the vaporized working fluid into mechanical motion for a power generator. The apparatus includes a vapor chamber to capture the vaporized working fluid and a second heat exchanger to use working fluid from the liquid chamber to condense the captured vaporized working fluid. An exchanger fluid system provides the working fluid to the second heat exchanger from a bottom portion of a pool of working liquid in the liquid chamber.

According to an aspect, a vapor powered apparatus for generating electric power includes a liquid chamber that contains a working fluid and a first heat exchanger that transfers heat from fluid coming from a heat source to working fluid coming from the liquid chamber, where the transferred heat vaporizes at least a portion of the working fluid to provide a working pressure of the vaporized working fluid. The apparatus includes a pressure motor to convert the working pressure of the vaporized working fluid into mechanical motion for a power generator. The apparatus includes a vapor chamber to capture the vaporized working fluid and a second heat exchanger to use working fluid from the liquid chamber to condense the captured vaporized working fluid. An exchanger fluid system provides the working fluid to the second heat exchanger from a bottom portion of a pool of working liquid in the liquid chamber.

Provided herein is a small modular nuclear reactor plant that can comprise a reactor core comprising a primary sodium comprising cool primary sodium flow and heated primary sodium flow. Heated primary sodium flow can enter one or more IHXs where heated primary sodium exchanges heat with secondary sodium flowing through at least one intermediate sodium loop. Intermediate sodium loop can comprise secondary sodium flow that can transport heat to energy conversion portion via a heat exchanger. Energy conversion portion can comprise a bypass valve. Bypass valve can bypass an energy conversion working fluid (such as S-CO2) away from a turbine during periods of adjustment as discussed herein. The plant may comprise passive load following features along with the ability to provide cogeneration heat.

According to an aspect, a vapor powered apparatus for generating electric power includes a liquid chamber that contains a working fluid and a first heat exchanger that transfers heat from fluid coming from a heat source to working fluid coming from the liquid chamber, where the transferred heat vaporizes at least a portion of the working fluid to provide a working pressure of the vaporized working fluid. The apparatus includes a pressure motor to convert the working pressure of the vaporized working fluid into mechanical motion for a power generator. The apparatus includes a vapor chamber to capture the vaporized working fluid and a second heat exchanger to use working fluid from the liquid chamber to condense the captured vaporized working fluid. An exchanger fluid system provides the working fluid to the second heat exchanger from a bottom portion of a pool of working liquid in the liquid chamber.

According to an aspect, a vapor powered apparatus for generating electric power includes a liquid chamber that contains a working fluid and a first heat exchanger that transfers heat from fluid coming from a heat source to working fluid coming from the liquid chamber, where the transferred heat vaporizes at least a portion of the working fluid to provide a working pressure of the vaporized working fluid. The apparatus includes a pressure motor to convert the working pressure of the vaporized working fluid into mechanical motion for a power generator. The apparatus includes a vapor chamber to capture the vaporized working fluid and a second heat exchanger to use working fluid from the liquid chamber to condense the captured vaporized working fluid. An exchanger fluid system provides the working fluid to the second heat exchanger from a bottom portion of a pool of working liquid in the liquid chamber.

In an improved inertial confinement fusion (ICF) system for converting x-ray energy, x-ray radiation from the detonation of an ICF target is directed towards a region containing an inert gas in which the x-ray radiation is absorbed and converted into thermal energy of the atoms of the gas or external coolant fluids. The gas is cooled to a desired temperature by using relatively large amounts of such gas and by absorption of secondary radiation by metal cylinders and heat exchangers. The gas then flows into a series of blowdown turbines to extract energy and is subsequently recycled back into the x-ray region. The electrical power output can be smoothed in time using flywheels. This is done in such a way as to avoid x-ray damage to the containing walls of the x-ray region and to avoid contamination of the target region that would interfere with laser irradiation of the target.