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Abstract

Systems and methods are described for removing thermal energy from power plant heat engines, storing, and then recovering the stored energy. The removed or stored thermal energy can raise the enthalpy of lower temperature heat sources for utilization in electric power generating plants. Included also are systems and methods for integrating and cascading multistage thermal energy storage to supply multiple heat users at different temperatures. The methods apply to power plants utilizing thermal energy from concentrated solar thermal energy collectors, fuel-fired heaters, or gas turbine-generator heat recovery units. Several embodiments use the stored energy to extend solar thermal power plant operation, particularly the bottom power cycle. Other embodiments extract thermal energy from a solar thermal power plant, storing a portion of the energy extracted, and recovering this thermal energy to continuously heat geothermal fluids utilized in a geothermal power plant, and heat geothermal power plant working fluids.

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First Claim