A method and apparatus for converting heat energy to mechanical energy with greater efficiency. According to the method, heat energy is applied to a working fluid in a reservoir sufficient to convert the working fluid to a vapor and the working fluid is passed in vapor form to means such as a generator for converting the energy therein to mechanical work. The working fluid is then recycled to the reservoir. In order to increase the efficiency of this process, a gas having a molecular weight no greater than the approximate molecular weight of the working fluid is added to the working fluid in the reservoir and separated from the working fluid downstream from the reservoir.
A high efficiency and economic refuse incineration power generation system capable of stable and continuous refuse incineration operation which can adapt to fluctuation in calorific values in the refuse incinerator has been provided, wherein the same system comprises the refuse incinerator having the heat exchanger through which the medium flows, the steam turbine which is coupled to the generator, and the refrigerator which supplies cooling water to the condenser, and wherein the medium discharged from the steam turbine is circulated to the boiler via the condenser where the medium is condensed to a condensate by enhanced cooling, a portion of the vapor generated in the refuse incinerator is branched in the upper stream of the steam turbine to be supplied to the refrigerator, and the working medium discharged from the refrigerator is caused to converge with the medium flow discharged from the condenser.
A condenser for use in a power plant includes a steam condensing zone having a heat exchanger tube bundle for condensing steam into condensate and a hot well zone allowing the condensate to stay therein. A plurality of detectors for detecting the quality of the condensate and/or detection ports for taking out a sample of the condensate are provided in the hot well zone. The control valve is provided on a feed water system for adjusting the supply of the condensate to be supplied from the condenser to the feed water system on the basis of water quality detection values detected by the plurality of detectors and/or detection ports and a make-up water system is provided for supplying make-up water to the feed water system on the downstream side of the control valve.
A system generates energy using the difference in elevation between an upper elevation (e.g., at the top of a mountain) and a lower one (e.g., at or near the bottom of the mountain.) In one embodiment, the system includes a compressor located at the upper location which supplies compressed gas through a conduit to a mixing chamber at the lower elevation. A control unit connected to the conduit supplies pulses of the compressed gas to the mixing chamber for mixing with mercury to produce a mercury-gas mixture. An injector injects pulses of the mercury-gas mixture into a turbine so as to impact against the turbine blades and drive the turbine. In further embodiments, the elevation differential is employed in combination with a pair of weights which are raised and lowered between the two elevations and which are used, when lowered, to generate a driving force for respective turbines.
An open cycle heat engine supplies steam from a steam generator to an ejector in which the moving steam draws in atmospheric air to mix with the steam to make a flowing air-steam mixture. A first nozzle follows the ejector and effects adiabatic expansion of the air steam mixture. A thermal engine, e.g., a turbo-generator, has an input connected to the first nozzle and an outlet, and converts the kinetic energy in the mixture into a useful form, such as electricity. A second nozzle connected to the outlet of said thermal engine effects adiabatic expansion of the mixture leaving the thermal engine, and exhausts it to the atmosphere. The open cycle heat engine exhaust is at a low density, and is carried aloft when it is discharged into the atmosphere. This open cycle can have an energy conversion efficiency of 90%.
A system generates energy using the difference in elevation between an upper elevation (e.g., at the top of a mountain) and a lower one (e.g., at or near the bottom of the mountain.) The system includes a compressor located at the upper location which supplies compressed gas through a conduit to a mixing chamber at the lower elevation. A plurality of turbine-generator sets are located at different elevations along the conduit for extracting energy from the compressed gas. A control unit connected to the conduit supplies pulses of the compressed gas to the mixing chamber for mixing with mercury to produce a mercury-gas mixture. An injector injects pulses of the mercury-gas mixture into a turbine so as to impact against the turbine blades and drive the turbine.
