Apparatus for extracting useful work or electricity from low grade thermal sources comprising a chamber, a source of heated dense heat transfer fluid in communication with the chamber, a source of motive fluid in communication with the chamber, wherein the motive fluid comprises a liquid phase, a flow control mechanism cooperating with the source of heated dense heat transfer fluid and with the source of motive fluid to deliver said fluids into the chamber in a manner that said fluids come into direct contact with each other in the chamber to effect a phase change of the motive fluid from liquid to gas to increase the pressure within the chamber to yield pressurized fluids, and a work extracting mechanism in communication with the chamber that extracts work from the pressurized fluids by way of pressure let down.

Solar/Rankine steam cycle hybrid concentrating solar power (CSP) systems and methods for designing or retrofitting existent natural circulation boilers using saturated or superheated steam produced by direct steam generation (DSG) or Heat Transfer Fluid (HTF) steam generators and CSP solar field technology systems are described. Additionally, methods and processes of retrofitting the existent Heat Recovery Steam Generators (HRSG) or biomass, gas, oil or coal fired boilers to operate integrated to a molten salt/water-steam heat exchangers are disclosed. The hybrid CSP systems are highly efficient due to the increase of steam generated by a heating section comprising either the DSG receiver or the molten salt-water-steam sequential heat exchangers, heaters, boiler/saturated steam generators, super-heaters and re-heaters. The additional saturated, superheated and reheated steam produced is directed to a Rankine cycle according to its pressure, temperature and steam quality significantly reducing the fuel consumption within a cogeneration or Combine Cycle Power Plant.

A concentrating solar power plant includes a solar light capturing part configured to capture solar light; and a heat exchange part configured to transform solar energy, from the captured solar light, into heat, which is stored in a solid medium, wherein the solid medium is stored underground. The solar light capturing part has a heliostat farm, a beam down solar concentrator, and a compound concentrator, each configured to reflect the solar light.

Apparatus for extracting useful work or electricity from low grade thermal sources comprising a chamber, a source of heated dense heat transfer fluid in communication with the chamber, a source of motive fluid in communication with the chamber, wherein the motive fluid comprises a liquid phase, a flow control mechanism cooperating with the source of heated dense heat transfer fluid and with the source of motive fluid to deliver said fluids into the chamber in a manner that said fluids come into direct contact with each other in the chamber to effect a phase change of the motive fluid from liquid to gas to increase the pressure within the chamber to yield pressurized fluids, and a work extracting mechanism in communication with the chamber that extracts work from the pressurized fluids by way of pressure let down.

Solar/Rankine steam cycle hybrid concentrating solar power (CSP) systems and methods for designing or retrofitting existent natural circulation boilers using saturated or superheated steam produced by direct steam generation (DSG) or Heat Transfer Fluid (HTF) steam generators and CSP solar field technology systems are described. Additionally, methods and processes of retrofitting the existent Heat Recovery Steam Generators (HRSG) or biomass, gas, oil or coal fired boilers to operate integrated to a molten salt/water-steam heat exchangers are disclosed. The hybrid CSP systems are highly efficient due to the increase of steam generated by a heating section comprising either the DSG receiver or the molten salt-water-steam sequential heat exchangers, heaters, boiler/saturated steam generators, super-heaters and re-heaters. The additional saturated, superheated and reheated steam produced is directed to a Rankine cycle according to its pressure, temperature and steam quality significantly reducing the fuel consumption within a cogeneration or Combine Cycle Power Plant.

A casing half shell for a turbine system, a steam turbine system and related method are provided. The casing half shell includes a body having an open interior for enclosing parts of the turbine system; a first inlet in the body for delivering a first working fluid flow into the open interior in a first direction; and a second inlet in the body for delivering a second working fluid flow into the open interior in a second direction that is opposed to the first direction. A working fluid dam extends radially and axially in the body between the first inlet and the second inlet, the working fluid dam includes a stress-mitigating slot extending radially therein. A fill member may be mounted in the stress-mitigating slot to provide full functioning of the working fluid dam.

A casing half shell for a turbine system, a steam turbine system and related method are provided. The casing half shell includes a body having an open interior for enclosing parts of the turbine system; a first inlet in the body for delivering a first working fluid flow into the open interior in a first direction; and a second inlet in the body for delivering a second working fluid flow into the open interior in a second direction that is opposed to the first direction. A working fluid dam extends radially and axially in the body between the first inlet and the second inlet, the working fluid dam includes a stress-mitigating slot extending radially therein. A fill member may be mounted in the stress-mitigating slot to provide full functioning of the working fluid dam.

Solar/Rankine steam cycle hybrid concentrating solar power (CSP) systems and methods for designing or retrofitting existent natural circulation boilers using saturated or superheated steam produced by direct steam generation (DSG) or Heat Transfer Fluid (HTF) steam generators and CSP solar field technology systems are described. Additionally, methods and processes of retrofitting the existent Heat Recovery Steam Generators (HRSG) or biomass, gas, oil or coal fired boilers to operate integrated to a molten salt/water-steam heat exchangers are disclosed. The hybrid CSP systems are highly efficient due to the increase of steam generated by the solar section comprising either the DSG receiver or the molten salt-water-steam sequential heat exchangers, pre-heaters, boiler/saturated steam generators, super-heaters and re-heaters. The additional saturated, superheated and reheated steam produced is directed to a Rankine cycle according to its pressure, temperature and steam quality significantly reducing the fuel consumption within a cogeneration or Combine Cycle Power Plant.

Apparatus for extracting useful work or electricity from low grade thermal sources comprising a chamber, a source of heated dense heat transfer fluid in communication with the chamber, a source of motive fluid in communication with the chamber, wherein the motive fluid comprises a liquid phase, a flow control mechanism cooperating with the source of heated dense heat transfer fluid and with the source of motive fluid to deliver said fluids into the chamber in a manner that said fluids come into direct contact with each other in the chamber to effect a phase change of the motive fluid from liquid to gas to increase the pressure within the chamber to yield pressurized fluids, and a work extracting mechanism in communication with the chamber that extracts work from the pressurized fluids by way of pressure let down.

A valve device for installing in a cylinder of a turbine casing includes a plurality of valves arranged within a casing of a pressure receiving steam chamber, a plurality of steam channels fluidly communicating between the plurality of valves and the cylinder of the turbine casing, and a pressure receiving plate configured to receive pressure of steam in the pressure receiving steam chamber to hold at least two valve seats of the plurality of valves on the casing of the pressure receiving steam chamber. The pressure receiving plate has locking holes corresponding to the at least two valve seats, and the at least two valve seats are fully circumferentially locked by inner peripheral edges of the locking holes.