An exhaust steam stream having an absolute pressure from 200 kPa to 1,050 kPa and shaft power are produced from an extraction turbine and/or a back-pressure turbine. The exhaust steam stream can be supplied to an amine regenerator of an amine CO.sub.2 separation process. The shaft power can be utilized to drive equipment in a hydrocarbon processing plant such as an olefins production plant.

An exhaust steam stream having an absolute pressure from 200 kPa to 1,050 kPa and shaft power are produced from an extraction turbine and/or a back-pressure turbine. The exhaust steam stream can be supplied to an amine regenerator of an amine CO.sub.2 separation process. The shaft power can be utilized to drive equipment in a hydrocarbon processing plant such as an olefins production plant.

To produce power using the cold in a stored fluid in a cold condensed state (for example, LNG or liquid air), the fluid is initially pumped, heated, and expanded to generate a first amount of power and form initially expanded fluid, which is then re-condensed, re-pumped, re-heated, and re-expanded to generate a second amount of power, where the initially expanded fluid is re-condensed against the pumped fluid from the initial pumping. The technique can be used to store excess energy in the cold condensed fluid using excess energy generation capacity for subsequent recovery when energy is either deficient or otherwise more expense to generate.

To produce power using the cold in a stored fluid in a cold condensed state (for example, LNG or liquid air), the fluid is initially pumped, heated, and expanded to generate a first amount of power and form initially expanded fluid, which is then re-condensed, re-pumped, re-heated, and re-expanded to generate a second amount of power, where the initially expanded fluid is re-condensed against the pumped fluid from the initial pumping. The technique can be used to store excess energy in the cold condensed fluid using excess energy generation capacity for subsequent recovery when energy is either deficient or otherwise more expense to generate.

A powerplant is provided that includes an engine and a water recovery system. The engine includes an engine combustor, an engine turbine, a flowpath and a fluid delivery system. The flowpath extends out of the engine combustor and through the engine turbine. The fluid delivery system includes a hydrogen reservoir and an oxygen reservoir. The hydrogen reservoir is configured to store fluid hydrogen as liquid hydrogen. The oxygen reservoir is configured to store fluid oxygen as liquid oxygen. The fluid delivery system is configured to provide the fluid hydrogen and the fluid oxygen for combustion within the engine combustor to produce combustion products within the flowpath. The water recovery system is configured to extract water from the combustion products. The water recovery system is configured to provide the water to a component of the powerplant.

A powerplant is provided that includes an engine and a water recovery system. The engine includes an engine combustor, an engine turbine, a flowpath and a fluid delivery system. The flowpath extends out of the engine combustor and through the engine turbine. The fluid delivery system includes a hydrogen reservoir and an oxygen reservoir. The hydrogen reservoir is configured to store fluid hydrogen as liquid hydrogen. The oxygen reservoir is configured to store fluid oxygen as liquid oxygen. The fluid delivery system is configured to provide the fluid hydrogen and the fluid oxygen for combustion within the engine combustor to produce combustion products within the flowpath. The water recovery system is configured to extract water from the combustion products. The water recovery system is configured to provide the water to a component of the powerplant.

An apparatus for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy by a cycle, having a heat exchanger, a reservoir for an operating medium, a feed line, a turbine, and a return line having at least one recovery device is described. In order to also be able to utilize waste heat for the generation of electrical energy, the turbine is embodied as a disc rotor turbine. A method for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy in a cycle is also described, in which thermal energy is supplied to an operating medium in a reservoir, the operating medium evaporates and/or a pressure in the operating medium is increased, whereupon the operating medium releases energy in a turbine, after which the operating medium is returned to the reservoir.

An apparatus for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy by a cycle, having a heat exchanger, a reservoir for an operating medium, a feed line, a turbine, and a return line having at least one recovery device is described. In order to also be able to utilize waste heat for the generation of electrical energy, the turbine is embodied as a disc rotor turbine. A method for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy in a cycle is also described, in which thermal energy is supplied to an operating medium in a reservoir, the operating medium evaporates and/or a pressure in the operating medium is increased, whereupon the operating medium releases energy in a turbine, after which the operating medium is returned to the reservoir.

A powerplant is provided that includes an engine and a water recovery system. The engine includes an engine combustor, an engine turbine, a flowpath and a fluid delivery system. The flowpath extends out of the engine combustor and through the engine turbine. The fluid delivery system includes a hydrogen reservoir and an oxygen reservoir. The hydrogen reservoir is configured to store fluid hydrogen as liquid hydrogen. The oxygen reservoir is configured to store fluid oxygen as liquid oxygen. The fluid delivery system is configured to provide the fluid hydrogen and the fluid oxygen for combustion within the engine combustor to produce combustion products within the flowpath. The water recovery system is configured to extract water from the combustion products. The water recovery system is configured to provide the water to a component of the powerplant.

A powerplant is provided that includes an engine and a water recovery system. The engine includes an engine combustor, an engine turbine, a flowpath and a fluid delivery system. The flowpath extends out of the engine combustor and through the engine turbine. The fluid delivery system includes a hydrogen reservoir and an oxygen reservoir. The hydrogen reservoir is configured to store fluid hydrogen as liquid hydrogen. The oxygen reservoir is configured to store fluid oxygen as liquid oxygen. The fluid delivery system is configured to provide the fluid hydrogen and the fluid oxygen for combustion within the engine combustor to produce combustion products within the flowpath. The water recovery system is configured to extract water from the combustion products. The water recovery system is configured to provide the water to a component of the powerplant.