| Ormat Technologies, Inc. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
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| 20120109581 | DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AN ESSENTIAL TURBINE VALVE - The present invention is a diagnostic method for determining the operability of an essential turbine valve, comprising the steps of exercising an essential valve operatively connected to a turbine inlet line through which a power plant motive fluid is supplied to a turbine by causing the essential valve to be partially closed for a predetermined exercising duration; detecting a drop in power produced by an electric generator coupled to the turbine resulting from said partial closing of the essential valve; comparing the detected power drop with a predetermined marginal power drop; and associating the essential valve with an operable status for reliably regulating the flow of motive fluid therethrough when the actual power drop is substantially equal to the predetermined marginal power drop. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120055462 | SOLAR DERIVED THERMAL STORAGE SYSTEM AND METHOD - The present invention is a method for storing solar collected heat and using the stored heat to produce power, comprising the steps of diverting solar heated fluid at a temperature greater than a predetermined power plant block (PPB) nominal temperature from a heat transfer circuit; transferring heat from the diverted solar heated fluid to a portion of a liquid water storage medium maintained at a temperature significantly less than the predetermined PPB nominal temperature and thermally storing the heated portion; and transferring heat from the heated liquid water storage medium to a fluid during periods of decreased solar radiation levels, whereby to produce power by means of said heated heat transfer fluid. | 03-08-2012 |
| 20110277468 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING POWER USING GEOTHERMAL FLUID - A method for producing power using geothermal liquid produced from geothermal fluid extracted from a geothermal well includes: a) providing a geothermal power plant for producing power indirectly using heat contained in geothermal liquid supplied thereto and produced from geothermal fluid extracted from a geothermal well; and b) providing an indirect heat exchanger means for indirectly heating a solution using heat contained in heat depleted geothermal liquid exiting the geothermal power plant and indirectly transferring heat to the solution producing a heated solution that produces hydrogen for use in producing power. | 11-17-2011 |
| 20110259010 | ORGANIC MOTIVE FLUID BASED WASTE HEAT RECOVERY SYSTEM - The present invention provides a waste heat recovery system, comprising a closed fluid circuit through which an organic motive fluid flows, heat exchanger means for transferring heat from waste heat gases to the motive fluid, means for flashing the motive fluid which exits the heat exchanger means into a high pressure flashed vapor portion, means for flashing liquid non-flashed motive fluid producing a low pressure flashed vapor portion, a high pressure turbine module which receives said high pressure flashed vapor portion to produce power, and a low pressure turbine module which receives a combined flow of motive fluid vapor comprising the low pressure flashed vapor portion and discharge vapor from the high pressure turbine module whereby additional power is produced. | 10-27-2011 |
| 20110138810 | APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING POWER USING GEOTHERMAL LIQUID - Apparatus for producing power using geothermal liquid includes a geothermal power plant for producing power using heat contained in geothermal liquid supplied thereto; and heating means apparatus for heating a solution and producing a heated solution for use in a hydrogen producing unit with heat from heat depleted geothermal liquid exiting a vaporizer of the geothermal power plant, wherein the hydrogen producing unit produces hydrogen for use in producing power. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110115445 | POWER SYSTEM - A power system is provided for delivering a custom level of electrical power to an industrial or commercial facility, comprising a local generator connected to a turbine operating in accordance with an organic Rankine cycle, the local generator having a capacity at least greater than a maximum anticipated power level needed for the electrical needs of a local industrial or commercial facility, one or more control devices operatively connected to the local generator for regulating active and reactive power generated by the generator, a detector for sensing active voltage induced by said generator, a detector for sensing reactive voltage produced by the generator, and a controller in electrical communication with said one or more control devices and with the active and reactive voltage detectors, wherein the controller directs the one or more control devices to regulate the generator such that the active power and reactive power generated by the generator are sufficient to satisfy active and reactive load conditions, of local industrial or commercial facilities. The present invention is also directed to a power system for providing a fast acting spinning reserve, comprising a turbine module of a organic Rankine cycle that is coupled to a generator, a main conduit through which motive fluid heated in said thermodynamic cycle is delivered to the turbine module, and a flow control component operatively connected to said main conduit for automatically limiting the flow of the motive fluid to the turbine module during base load conditions and for automatically increasing the flow of the motive fluid to the turbine module during variable load conditions. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110041502 | POWER PLANT USING ORGANIC WORKING FLUIDS - A closed Rankine cycle power plant using an organic working fluid includes a solar trough collector for heating an organic working fluid, a flash vaporizer for vaporizing the heated organic working fluid, a turbine receiving and expanding the vaporized organic working fluid for producing power or electricity, a condenser for condensing the expanded organic working fluid and a pump for circulating the condensed organic working fluid to the solar trough collector. Heated organic working fluid in the flash vaporizer that is not vaporized is returned to the solar trough collector. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110011052 | GAS TURBINE EXHAUST GAS COOLING SYSTEM - A gas turbine exhaust gas cooling system includes a conduit for a primary gas turbine exhaust gas extending from the primary gas turbine to an inlet of a desired industrial process apparatus, a work producing thermodynamic cycle in which a working fluid is heated and expanded, and at least one heat exchanger by which heat is sufficiently transferred from the primary gas turbine exhaust gas to the working fluid to produce a low temperature heating medium downstream of the heat exchanger at a predetermined temperature and energy level which are sufficient for effecting a desired industrial process. | 01-20-2011 |
| 20100313565 | WASTE HEAT RECOVERY SYSTEM - The present invention provides a waste heat recovery system, comprising: an internal combustion engine for supplying a high grade waste heat thermal resource fluid and a low grade waste heat thermal resource fluid; an intermediate thermal cycle by which an intermediate fluid is vaporized by means of the high grade waste heat thermal resource fluid and is expanded within a first turbine, whereby produce is produced; and an organic thermal cycle by which an organic motive fluid is preheated by means of the low grade waste heat thermal resource fluid and is vaporized by means of the discharge of the intermediate fluid from the first turbine, said vaporized organic motive fluid being expanded in a second turbine, whereby power is produced. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20100242474 | MULTI-HEAT SOURCE POWER PLANT - According to present invention, a method is provided for operating a multi-heat source power plant using a low-medium temperature heat source fluid, wherein the multi-heat source power plant includes a turbine or expander run by an organic motive fluid, comprising preheating the organic motive fluid using the low-medium temperature heat source fluid and thereafter providing further heat from an additional heat source to vaporize the motive fluid which is supplied to the turbine or expander. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100071368 | Multi-level organic rankine cycle power system - A waste heat recovery system includes a high pressure turbine and a low pressure turbine, in which the high pressure turbine receives high pressure working fluid vapor, the low pressure turbine receives low pressure working fluid vapor and the high pressure turbine also supplies low pressure working fluid vapor to the low pressure turbine. A recuperator receives working fluid vapor from the low pressure turbine. The recuperator produces heated condensate, at least a portion of which is provided to a high pressure vaporizer. The high pressure vaporizer is configured to receive from a high temperature heat source and produces high pressure working vapor used to power the high pressure turbine. The remaining condensed fluid is provided to a low pressure vaporizer which is configured to receive heat from a low-temperature heat source, thereby producing low pressure working fluid vapor used to power the low pressure turbine. | 03-25-2010 |
| 20100043777 | SOLAR COLLECTOR SYSTEM - The present invention provides a solar collector apparatus, comprising a horizontally-mounted cylindrical reflector, divided along its length into two reflector segments, each having its own axis of rotation. Preferably, the two reflector segments are produced by dividing the horizontally-mounted cylindrical reflector down its centerline into two equal reflector segments. The two reflectors segments perform novel tracking with different rotation angles about their corresponding axes by use of a trapeze coupling or a mechanism that permits separate tracking. Since the two reflector segments are coupled, preferably only one tracking mechanism (trapezoid or other) is required since the reflector segments preferably have parallel axes. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20090320473 | MULTI-HEAT SOURCE POWER PLANT - According to present invention, a method is provided for operating a multi-heat source power plant using a low-medium temperature heat source fluid, wherein the multi-heat source power plant includes a turbine or expander run by an organic motive fluid, comprising preheating the organic motive fluid using the low-medium temperature heat source fluid and thereafter providing further heat from an additional heat source to vaporize the motive fluid which is supplied to the turbine or expander. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20090169358 | WATER LUBRICATED LINE SHAFT BEARING AND LUBRICATION SYSTEM FOR A GEOTHERMAL PUMP - The present invention provides a water lubricated line shaft bearing assembly, comprising an outer annular steel shell and an inner layer made of low friction material attached to the outer shell, the inner layer having a non-uniform thickness which is formed with wall portions of increased thickness defining a plurality of shaft engaging portions and with wall portions of reduced thickness defining a plurality of lubricant passages. The shaft engaging portions are capable of being journalled on a line shaft adapted to drive a downhole geothermal production pump and the steel shell is engageable with an inner wall of a lubrication tube vertically extending through a water column through which pumped geothermal fluid is delivered, lubrication water bled from the pumped geothermal fluid being used to supply lubrication water through the lubricant passages. The steel shell has sufficient compressive strength to withstand the stress imposed by the high rotational speed of the line shaft of the geothermal production pump. The low friction material of the inner liner allows solid debris present or entrained in the lubrication water to slide over the inner line. Solid debris is prevented from accumulating due to the presence of the passages through which the lubrication water flows. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090100845 | POWER AND REGASIFICATION SYSTEM FOR LNG - The present invention provides a power and regasification system based on liquefied natural gas (LNG), comprising a vaporizer by which liquid motive fluid is vaporized, said liquid motive fluid being LNG or a motive fluid liquefied by means of LNG; a turbine for expanding the vaporized motive fluid and producing power; heat exchanger means to which expanded motive fluid vapor is supplied, said heat exchanger means also being supplied with LNG for receiving heat from said expanded fluid vapor, whereby the temperature of the LNG increases as it flows through the heat exchanger means; a conduit through which said motive fluid is circulated from at least the inlet of said vaporizer to the outlet of said heat exchanger means; and a line for transmitting regasified LNG. | 04-23-2009 |
| 20080289313 | DIRECT HEATING ORGANIC RANKINE CYCLE - The present invention provides an organic Rankine cycle power system, which comprises means for superheating vaporized organic motive fluid, an organic turbine module coupled to a generator, and a first pipe through which superheated organic motive fluid is supplied to the turbine, wherein the superheating means is a set of coils through which the vaporized organic motive fluid flows and which is in direct heat exchanger relation with waste heat gases. | 11-27-2008 |
