THERMODYNAMIC CYCLES WITH THERMAL DILUENT

• US 20070234702A1
• Filed: 10/10/2006
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vast Holdings LLC (JayHawk Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vast Power Portfolio, LLC
• Inventors: Hagen, David, Rankin, Janet, Massardo, Aristide, Goheen, Bill, Ginter, Gary, McGuire, Allan, Traverso, Alberto, Klaus, Ronald
• Granted Patent: US 8,631,657 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/39.10
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/032 from the cooling liquid of the propulsion plant and from a burner
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 23/101 Regulating means specially adapted therefor F01K23/105, F01K23/108 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 23/12 the engines being mechanically coupled F01K23/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 20/14 Combined heat and power generation [CHP]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 20/16 Combined cycle power plant [CCPP], or combined cycle gas turbine [CCGT]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/15 On-site combined power, heat or cool generation or distribution, e.g. combined heat and power [CHP] supply

Abstract

Thermodynamic cycles with diluent that produce mechanical power, electrical power, and/or fluid streams for heating and/or cooling are described. Systems contain a combustion system producing an energetic fluid by combusting fuel with oxidant. Thermal diluent is preferably used in the cycle to improve performance, including one or more of power, efficiency, economics, emissions, dynamic and off-peak load performance, temperature regulation, and/or cooling heated components. Cycles include a heat recovery system and preferably recover and recycle thermal diluent from expanded energetic fluid to improve cycle thermodynamic efficiency and reduce energy conversion costs. Cycles preferably include controls for temperatures, pressures, and flow rates within a combined heat and power (CHP) system, and controls for power, thermal output, efficiency, and/or emissions.

Claims

1. An energy transfer system comprising:

(a) a combustion system, comprising a combustor having an outlet, operative to react fuel with oxidant, thereby forming products of combustion;

(b) an oxidant delivery system comprising an oxidant pressurizer, operative to deliver oxidant into the energy transfer system upstream of the combustor outlet;

(c) a fuel delivery system operative to deliver fuel into the energy transfer system upstream of the combustor outlet;

(d) a diluent delivery system operative to;

(i) pressurize diluent fluid comprising vaporizable diluent in at least one location within the energy transfer system; and

(ii) deliver diluent upstream of the combustor outlet;

thereby forming an energetic fluid upstream of the combustor outlet comprising products of combustion and vaporized diluent;

(e) an expansion system downstream of the combustion system comprising an expander, operative to expand energetic fluid to form an expanded energetic fluid;

(f) a heat and mass transfer system comprising;

(i) a first heat exchanger with at least two inlets and at least one outlet, operative to receive and to exchange heat between a portion of expanded energetic fluid and diluent,

thereby forming a cooled expanded fluid and a heated diluent;

(ii) a flow control device operable to control diluent flow; and

(iii) a diluent outlet port connectable to a utilization device; and

(g) a control system operable to control;

(i) delivery of diluent to the first heat exchanger;

(ii) delivery of heated diluent to a fluid location upstream of the combustor outlet;

(iii) delivery of heated diluent to the diluent outlet port connectable to the utilization device; and

(iv) the quantity of diluent in the energy transfer system above a prescribed minimum quantity.

2. The energy transfer system of claim 1 wherein the control system is operable to control distribution of heated diluent delivery within the energy transfer system,

such that the temperature of heated diluent delivered to the diluent outlet port exceeds a minimum utilization temperature.

3. The energy transfer system of claim 2 wherein the control system is further operable to control fuel delivery such that the delivery of heated diluent to the diluent outlet port exceeds a desired flow rate.

4. The energy transfer system of claim 3 wherein heated diluent is delivered to the combustor, and the system further comprises a fluid control device operable to control delivery of heated diluent to the combustor.

5. The energy transfer system of claim 1 wherein the diluent comprises water.

6. The energy transfer system of claim 1 wherein the diluent comprises one or more of:

crude oil, tar sand oil, shale oil, syncrude, coal derived fuels, fuel oil, heavy fossil liquids, coal derived fuels, bunker oil, diesel fuel, aviation fuel, and kerosene.

7. The energy transfer system of claim 1 wherein one of the combustor and the expander comprises a heat-sensitive component, and the control system is operable to control the distribution of diluent delivery upstream of the expander outlet, and is operable to maintain the fluid temperature at a fluid control location thermally proximate to the heat-sensitive component below a fluid control temperature limit.

8. The energy transfer system of claim 7 wherein a component temperature at a component control location remains below a component control temperature limit.

9. The energy transfer system of claim 7 wherein the expander is operable to deliver mechanical power, and the control system is further operable to control fuel delivery such that the expander supplies at least a minimum desired level of mechanical power.

10. The energy transfer system of claim 9 wherein the control system is further operable to control fuel delivery and operable to maintain above a minimum desired flow rate, the flow rate of heated diluent deliverable to the diluent outlet port.

11. The energy transfer system of claim 9 wherein the control system is further operable to control fuel delivery and to control diluent distribution so as to control the mechanical power delivery and the heated diluent flow rate.

12. The energy transfer system of claim 11 wherein the control system is further operable to control the distribution of diluent within the energy transfer system thereby controlling the thermal efficiency of the energy transfer system.

13. The energy transfer system of claim 1 wherein the heat and mass transfer system comprises an evaporator downstream of the expander operable to vaporize diluent with expanded energetic fluid thereby forming a vaporized diluent.

14. The energy transfer system of claim 13 wherein the heat and mass transfer system is operable to control delivery of vaporized diluent to the combustor.

15. The energy transfer system of claim 13 wherein the heat and mass transfer system is operable to deliver vaporized diluent to the diluent outlet port.

16. The energy transfer system of claim 15 wherein the heat and mass transfer system comprises an inlet port operable to receive utilized diluent from the utilization device.

17. The energy transfer system of claim 13 wherein the heat and mass transfer system comprises a surface heat exchange device operable to heat fuel with vaporized diluent and to deliver heated fuel to the combustor.

18. The energy transfer system of claim 13 wherein the heat and mass transfer system comprises a mixing device operable to mix fuel with vaporized diluent and deliver the fuel-diluent mixture to the combustor.

19. The energy transfer system of claim 18 wherein the fuel is vaporized.

20. The energy transfer system of claim 13 wherein the heat and mass transfer system comprises a superheater downstream of the expander operable to superheat vaporized diluent with expanded energetic fluid, and/or cooled expanded fluid.

21. The energy transfer system of claim 20 wherein the heat and mass transfer system is operable to deliver superheated diluent to the combustor.

22. The energy transfer system of claim 13 wherein the heat and mass transfer system is operable to deliver vaporized diluent to a second diluent outlet port connectable to a second utilization device thereby forming utilized diluent.

23. The energy transfer system of claim 22 wherein the heat and mass transfer system comprises a diluent inlet port operable to receive utilized diluent from the second utilization device.

24. The energy transfer system of claim 1 wherein the heat and mass transfer system comprises a condensor operable to condense diluent from cooled expanded fluid.

25. The energy transfer system of claim 24 wherein the condenser comprises a fluid mixer operable to deliver liquid diluent.

26. The energy transfer system of claim 24 wherein the heat and mass transfer system comprises a cooling heat exchanger and a coolant pressurizing device and is operable to cool and circulate coolant through the condenser.

27. The energy transfer system of claim 24 wherein the heat and mass transfer system is operable to recover condensed diluent and deliver it within the heat and mass transfer system.

28. The energy transfer system of claim 24 wherein the heat and mass transfer system is operable to recover water and utilize it within the heat and mass transfer system.

29. The energy transfer system of claim 26 wherein the heat and mass transfer system is operable to condense and deliver water to the cooling heat exchanger.

30. The energy transfer system of claim 26 wherein the heat and mass transfer system is operable to recover condensed diluent and deliver it to a condensed diluent outlet port.

31. The energy transfer system of claim 1 wherein the heat and mass transfer system is operable to control delivery of heated diluent to the outlet port connectable to the utilization device, and wherein the utilization device is operable to cool diluent and to control delivery of cooling diluent from the utilization device.

32. The energy transfer system of claim 24 wherein the heat and mass transfer system is further operable to discharge condensed diluent from the energy-transfer system, and to control the diluent discharge rate, thereby controlling a contaminant concentration in the diluent not discharged.

33. The energy transfer system of claim 32 further comprising a diluent treatment system, operable to control the concentration of a contaminant in diluent delivered upstream of the expander outlet such that the contaminant concentration is less than a prescribed concentration limit.

34. The energy transfer system of claim 32 wherein the control system is operable to control diluent delivery such that the concentration of a contaminant in residual fluid exhausted from the energy transfer system is maintained below a prescribed limit.

35. The energy transfer system of claim 13 wherein the control system is operable to control distribution of vaporized diluent within the energy transfer system.

36. The energy transfer system of claim 20 wherein the control system is operable to control distribution of superheated diluent within the energy transfer system.

37. The energy transfer system of claim 1 wherein the expansion system comprises at least one recompressor downstream of the first heat exchanger operable to recompress cooled expanded fluid, thereby forming a recompressed fluid.

38. The energy transfer system of claim 37 wherein the heat exchanger is configured downstream of the expander and upstream of the recompressor.

39. The energy transfer system of claim 37 wherein the heat and mass transfer system comprises an exhaust heat exchange device downstream of the recompressor operable to exchange heat between diluent and recompressed fluid.

40. The energy transfer system of claim 37 wherein the heat and mass transfer system further comprises a fluid-mixing device configured downstream of one of the expander and the recompressor, and the heat and mass transfer system is operable to deliver diluent into the downstream flow.

41. The energy transfer system of claim 40 comprising a fluid-mixing device operable to deliver diluent into at least one of the expander and the recompressor.

42. The energy transfer system of claim 1 wherein the heat and mass transfer system comprises a fluid mixing device operable to deliver diluent to the oxidant-delivery system, and to mix diluent with oxidant in the oxidant delivery system.

43. The energy transfer system of claim 42 comprising a plurality of oxidant pressurizers, wherein the fluid-mixing device is operable upstream of one of the plurality of oxidant pressurizers.

44. The energy transfer system of claim 42 comprising a flow control device and multiple fluid-mixing devices, which are operable to control diluent delivery to multiple locations within the oxidant pressurizer displaced along the streamwise flow.

45. The energy transfer system of claim 1 wherein the oxidant-delivery system is operable to deliver oxidant to the heat and mass transfer system.

46. The energy transfer system of claim 45 wherein the heat and mass transfer system is operable to exchange heat between oxidant and expanded energetic fluid, thereby forming heated oxidant, and to deliver heated oxidant to the combustor.

47. The energy transfer system of claim 1 wherein the heat and mass transfer system is operable to deliver a product fluid comprising one of products of combustion, energetic fluid, expanded energetic fluid, and/or cooled expanded fluid, to a product outlet port connectable to a product utilization device.

48. The energy transfer system of claim 47 wherein the product utilization device is further connectable to the diluent outlet port, and is operable to mix diluent with product fluid.

49. The energy transfer system of claim 47 comprising an product pressurizer operable to compress product fluid.

50. The energy transfer system of claim 47 wherein the product utilization device is operable to deliver product fluid for petroleum recovery as a flooding fluid and/or a thermal heating fluid.

51. The energy transfer system of claim 20 wherein the control system is operable to control the distribution of a plurality of diluent fluids having a plurality of temperatures, selected from diluent, warm diluent, hot diluent, vaporized diluent, and superheated diluent.

52. The energy transfer system of claim 48 wherein the diluent comprises vaporized diluent.

53. The energy transfer system of claim 48 wherein the diluent comprises liquid diluent.

54. The energy transfer system of claim 1 wherein the heat and mass transfer system is operable to deliver and contact diluent with oxidant in the oxidant-delivery system.

55. The energy transfer system of claim 1 wherein the heat and mass transfer system comprises an oxidant surface heat exchange device, operable to deliver diluent and to exchange heat between diluent and pressurized oxidant.

56. The energy transfer system of claim 55 wherein the heat and mass transfer system is further operable to deliver at least some heated diluent to one or more of the:

combustor, the expander, an heat generating component, and the utilization device.

57. The energy transfer system of claim 1 wherein the heat and mass transfer system further comprises at least one protective heat exchanger operable to exchange heat between diluent and at least one heat generating component not including the combustor and the oxidant pressurizer.

58. The energy transfer system of claim 57 wherein the control system is further operable to control delivery of diluent to the protective heat exchanger, such that a heat generating component temperature is maintained below a prescribed component upper temperature limit.

59. The energy transfer system of claim 58, wherein the diluent comprises heated diluent.

60. The energy transfer system of claim 58, further comprising a coolant heat exchanger in coolant fluid communication with the heat generating component and configured to exchange heat between coolant fluid and diluent.

61. The energy transfer system of claim 1 wherein the heat and mass transfer system comprises an expansion surface heat exchange device operable to deliver and exchange heat between diluent and expanded energetic fluid within the expansion system thereby forming heated diluent.

62. The energy transfer system of claim 61 wherein the heat and mass transfer system is operable to deliver at least some heated diluent to one or more of the:

oxidant delivery system, the combustion system, the expansion system, and/or the utilization device.

63. The energy transfer system of claim 1 wherein the combustion system comprises a cooling system having a combustor heat exchanger operable to exchange heat between the energetic fluid within the combustor and diluent supplied to the cooling system.

64. The energy transfer system of claim 1 wherein the combustion system comprises a cooling system operable for direct contact heat exchange between a fluid within the combustor and diluent from the heat and mass transfer system.

65. The energy transfer system of claim 1 wherein the diluent delivery system is operable to deliver diluent to the heat and mass transfer system.

66. The energy transfer system of claim 1 wherein the heat and mass transfer system is operable to receive fuel from the fuel delivery system, exchange heat between heated diluent and fuel, thereby forming heated fuel, and to deliver heated fuel to the combustor.

67. The energy transfer system of claim 1 wherein the heat and mass transfer system is operable to deliver diluent to a plurality of locations within the combustor, and to control distribution of diluent within the combustor.

68. The energy transfer system of claim 1 wherein the heat and mass transfer system comprises a fluid-mixing device operable to deliver diluent to the expansion system and to mix diluent with one of expanded fluid and oxidant, by a fluid-mixing device.

69. The energy transfer system of claim 1 wherein the heat and mass transfer system comprises a second heat exchanger operable to exchange heat between expanded energetic fluid and diluent.

70. The energy transfer system of claim 1 wherein the heat and mass transfer system is operable to deliver diluent and/or oxidant to the expansion system.

71. The energy transfer system of claim 1 comprising a pump.

72. The energy transfer system of claim 71 wherein the heat and mass transfer system is operable to deliver diluent and/or heated diluent to a pump and to cool the pump.

73. The energy transfer system of claim 1 wherein the utilization device is located remotely from the expander.

74. The energy transfer system of claim 1 comprising a surface heat exchange device operable to further cool cooled expanded fluid with diluent, thereby forming a heated diluent.

75. The energy transfer system of claim 1 wherein the heat and mass transfer system is operable to deliver heated diluent to the combustor.

76. The energy transfer system of claim 1 wherein the heat and mass transfer system is operable to contact and mix oxidant with heated diluent.

77. The energy transfer system of claim 1 wherein the heat and mass transfer system is operable to heat fuel and deliver it to the combustor.

78. The energy transfer system of claim 1 wherein the heat and mass transfer system comprises a mixing device operable to mix fuel with heated diluent and deliver the mixture to the combustor.

79. The energy transfer system of claim 1 wherein the heat and mass transfer system further comprises a cooling device operable to use mechanical power and/or heated diluent to cool oxidant, cool diluent, freeze diluent, and/or cool refrigerant

80. The energy transfer system of claim 1 wherein the heat and mass transfer system comprises a mixing device operable to deliver heated diluent and mix it with fuel, and the heat and mass transfer system is operable to deliver the fuel-diluent mixture to the combustor.

81. The energy transfer system of claim 80 wherein the heat and mass transfer system is operable to vaporize fuel and deliver vaporized fuel to the combustor.

82. The energy transfer system of claim 1 wherein the heat and mass transfer system is operable to condense one of diluent and a product of combustion in expanded energetic fluid.

83. The energy transfer system of claim 1 wherein the heat and mass transfer system comprises a surface heat exchange device operable to heat oxidant with one of expanded energetic fluid, heated diluent, vaporized diluent, and/or cooled diluent.

84. The energy transfer system of claim 1 wherein the heat and mass transfer system comprises a mixing device operable to mix and vaporize diluent with oxidant.

85. The energy transfer system of claim 1 wherein the heat and mass transfer system comprises a pressurizing device operable to pressurize one of diluent and fuel.

86. The energy transfer system of claim 1 wherein the combustion system is insulated to reduce heat loss from energetic fluid to the environment.

87. The energy transfer system of claim 1 wherein the heat and mass transfer system comprises a combustor heat exchanger operable to cool the combustor with diluent, and the combustion system further comprises components insulated to reduce heat gain from the energetic fluid.

88. The energy transfer system of claim 1 wherein the combustion system comprises at least one radiation shield operable to intercept and recycle radiation from fluid comprising products of combustion, and operable to exchange heat with diluent.

89. The energy transfer system of claim 1 wherein the fuel delivery system is operable to deliver liquid fuel comprising one of crude oil, tar sand oil, shale oil, syncrude, coal derived fuels, liquified natural gas, diesel fuel, fuel oil, heavy fossil liquids, coal derived fuels, bunker oil, aviation fuel, and kerosene.

90. The energy transfer system of claim 1 wherein the fuel delivery system is operable to deliver gaseous fuel comprising one of natural gas, coal bed methane, biogas, producer gas, and synthesis gas.

91. The energy transfer system of claim 1 wherein the fuel delivery system and/or the diluent delivery system comprises fluid delivery orifices, and further comprises a fluid filter having orifices smaller than the size of the respective fluid delivery orifices.

92. The energy transfer system of claim 1 wherein the expander comprises a plurality of shafts.

93. The energy transfer system of claim 1 wherein the utilization device is operable to cool oxidant, cool diluent, freeze diluent and/or cool refrigerant.

94. A method of controlling fluid delivery in an energy conversion system comprising a combustor in fluid communication with a downstream expander;

the method comprising;

delivering oxidant to the combustor;

delivering fuel to the combustor

mixing fuel and oxidant upstream of the combustor outlet;

combusting the fuel-oxidant mixture within the combustor, thereby forming products of combustion;

delivering diluent within the system;

forming an energetic fluid comprising products of combustion, and diluent vapor;

expanding the energetic fluid in the expander,

thereby forming an expanded energetic fluid;

selecting a control location upstream of the expander outlet at which a temperature is to be controlled;

prescribing a temperature limit at the control location;

the control location and temperature limit being selected to provide a margin of safety for a heat-sensitive component in contact with a hot fluid comprising products of combustion near the control location;

maintaining the temperature at the control location below the prescribed control location temperature limit by;

controlling the delivery of fuel to the system; and

controlling delivery of diluent upstream of the control location.

95. The control method of claim 94, wherein the control location comprises a fluid control location Lv within the hot fluid.

96. The control method of claim 95 wherein the fluid control location Lv is selected to be within +/−

5% of a hot section span from a control location Ld of a design temperature limit Td in a transverse plane comprising that span.

97. The control method of claim 95 wherein the fluid control location temperature limit is selected to not be within 1% of the peak control location temperature limit Tp.

98. The control method of claim 95 wherein the fluid control location temperature limit is selected to not be within 1% of a mean of the maximum fluid temperature limit distribution Tw in a plane including the temperature control location transverse to the fluid flow.

99. The control method of claim 95, further comprising:

selecting a component control location Lc thermally proximate to the fluid control location;

specifying a component control location temperature limit; and

maintaining the component temperature at the component control location to remain below the component control location temperature limit by

controlling the upstream diluent delivery.

100. The control method of claim 94 wherein the selected control location is a component control location Lc in or thermally proximate to the heat-sensitive component and not within the hot fluid.

101. The control method of claim 100 wherein the selected component control location temperature limit is selected to be within +/−

5% of a design temperature limit Td.

102. The control method of claim 100 wherein a component control location Lc is selected to be within +/−

5% of combustor span of a peak temperature location Lp in a transverse plane comprising that span.

103. The control method of claim 94 further comprising controlling the delivery of diluent upstream of the expander.

104. The control method of claim 94 further comprising controlling the delivery of diluent to the combustor.

105. The method of claim 94 wherein the energy-conversion system comprises an expanded fluid heat exchanger downstream of the expander,

the method further comprising controlling delivery of diluent to the expanded fluid heat exchanger;

and

forming cooled expanded fluid and heated diluent by exchanging heat between expanded energetic fluid and diluent.

106. The method of claim 105 further comprising controlling the temperature and/or the diluent delivery rate undergoing heat exchange with expanded energetic fluid.

107. The control method of claim 94 further comprising controlling a rate of diluent recovery from the expanded energetic fluid.

108. The method of claim 94, wherein the conversion system comprises a component heated by the energetic fluid;

the method further comprising;

maintaining the temperature of the heated component to remain below a prescribed component temperature limit, by controlling delivery of coolant fluid comprising one of diluent and oxidant, to the heated component.

109. The control method of claim 105 further comprising recovering diluent in the cooled expanded fluid, thereby forming a residual cooled fluid.

110. The method of claim 105 wherein the energy conversion system further comprises a recompressor downstream of the expander, the method further comprising recompressing and exhausting residual cooled fluid, thereby forming an exhaust fluid.

111. The control method of claim 110 further comprising controlling a pressure of one of cooled expanded fluid and residual cooled fluid, to less than or equal to about 80% of the ambient pressure.

112. The control method of claim 107 wherein the rate of diluent recovery from the expanded energetic fluid is greater than the rate of diluent delivery upstream of the expander outlet.

113. The control method of claim 112 further comprising maintaining the concentration in the diluent of a contaminant formed by combustion to below a prescribed limit by controlling the rate of diluent recovery.

114. The control method of claim 105 further comprising exchanging heat between diluent and cooled expanded fluid, thereby forming heated diluent and cooled exhaust fluid.

115. The control method of claim 114 further comprising controlling the relative humidity of the cooled exhaust fluid exiting the energy conversion system.

116. The control method of claim 105 further comprising further cooling the cooled expanded fluid with a coolant fluid, thereby forming heated coolant, and condensed diluent;

and recovering condensed diluent from the cooled expanded fluid.

117. The control method of claim 105 further comprising delivering the cooled expanded fluid to a process requiring a carbon feed.

118. The control method of claim 105 further comprising:

delivering vaporized diluent to one of the combustor and the expander; and

controlling the delivery of vaporized diluent.

119. The control method of claim 105 further comprising:

delivering superheated diluent to one of the combustor and the expander; and

controlling the delivery rate of superheated diluent.

120. The control method of claim 105 further controlling rate of vaporized diluent exiting the combustor outlet to be greater than the amount of diluent being vaporized by heat exchange with expanded energetic fluid by controlling the rate of vaporizable diluent and vaporized diluent delivered upstream of the combustor outlet.

121. The control method of claim 94 wherein the diluent comprises water.

122. The control method of claim 94 further maintaining above a prescribed rate one of a rate of mechanical power extracted from the expander and a rate of heat delivered by heated diluent formed by exchanging heat between diluent and expanded fluid, by controlling delivery of fuel and delivery of diluent.

123. The control method of claim 122 further comprising controlling the temperature of a heat generating component by exchanging heat between diluent and the heat generating component.

124. The control method of claim 123 further comprising exchanging heat between heated diluent and the heat generating component forming further heated diluent, and delivering further heated diluent upstream of the combustor outlet.

125. The control method of claim 124 further comprising controlling the rate of mechanical power and the rate of delivering heat by heated diluent.

126. The control method of claim 122 further comprising maintaining a cooling rate of one of oxidant, diluent, and refrigerant to greater than a prescribed cooling rate, by controlling a rate of one of mechanical power and heated diluent used for cooling.

127. The control method of claim 122 further comprising controlling the rate of mechanical power delivered to a mechanical use, the rate of heat delivered to a heat use, and the rate of cooling delivered to a cooling use.

128. The control method of claim 107, further comprising recovering a portion of diluent as liquid water at greater than the rate of water delivered as moisture with the oxidant delivered to the combustor.

129. The control method of claim 107, wherein diluent is formed by combustion, further comprising recovering from the expanded fluid diluent at a rate greater than the rate of diluent formed by the combustion.

130. The control method of claim 129 wherein water is formed by combustion and diluent comprises water, the method further comprising recovering water from expanded fluid at a rate greater than the rate of water being formed by combustion.

131. The control method of claim 94 wherein the energy conversion system comprises a heat generating device in addition to the combustor, the control method further comprising maintaining the temperature of the heat generating device below a prescribed device temperature limit, by:

controlling delivery of diluent to the heat generation device; and

exchanging heat between the diluent and the heat generation device;

thereby forming heated diluent.

132. The control method of claim 131, further comprising cooling the heat generating device with coolant and exchanging heat between coolant and diluent.

133. The control method of claim 94 further comprising delivering diluent to the heat-sensitive component, and

exchanging heat between the heat-sensitive component and the diluent delivered thereto.

134. The control method of claim 133 wherein the control location comprises a component control location Lc on or in the heat-sensitive component;

the method further comprising;

maintaining a temperature of the heat-sensitive component at the component control location below a prescribed component temperature limit, by

controlling the flow of diluent delivered to the heat-sensitive component.

135. The control method of claim 94 wherein oxidant is delivered as a component of oxidant-containing fluid,

further comprising providing diluent equivalent to a prescribed degree of saturation of diluent in oxidant-containing fluid, by controlling the rate of delivering and mixing of diluent with the oxidant-containing fluid, upstream of the start of combustion.

136. The control method of claim 94 further comprising

pressurizing the oxidant by a compressor, and controlling the rate of delivering and mixing diluent with oxidant being pressurized.

137. The control method of claim 136, wherein the diluent is delivered at multiple locations along the oxidant flow within the compressor.

138. The control method of claim 135 further comprising delivering liquid diluent in excess of the rate required to saturate the oxidant-containing fluid with diluent.

139. The control method of claim 94 comprising controlling an oxidant temperature, further comprising directly contacting oxidant with diluent upstream of the start of combustion and controlling the rate of diluent delivery.

140. The control method of claim 94 further comprising cooling diluent to be mixed with oxidant before mixing therewith, thereby forming cooled diluent, and contacting oxidant with cooled diluent upstream of the start of combustion.

141. The control method of claim 94 further comprising

controlling a diluent delivery rate upstream of the combustor;

and

controlling a diluent delivery rate into the combustor.

142. The control method of claim 94 further comprising

maintaining the temperature below prescribed limits for a plurality of control locations thermally proximate to products of combustion, by controlling the delivery of diluent within the energy conversion system.

143. The control method of claim 94 further comprising controlling a plurality of control temperatures at a plurality of control locations by controlling the transverse distribution of diluent delivery upstream of the control locations.

144. The control method of claim 94, further comprising evaporating diluent by products of combustion by controlling distribution of diluent delivery upstream of the combustor outlet.

145. The control method of claim 94, wherein the energetic fluid comprises partially-oxidized fuel components, and the method further comprises controlling one or both of the delivery of oxidant and fuel, such that the degree of combustion within the energy conversion system is sufficient to maintain one partially-oxidized fuel component in fluid exiting the energy conversion system to less than a prescribed concentration.

146. The control method of claim 144, further comprising controlling the delivery of diluent upstream of the combustor to greater than the rate that would quench the flame if delivered upstream of the start of combustion.

147. The control method of claim 94, further comprising limiting formation of a byproduct component exiting the expander outlet to less than a prescribed concentration by controlling the distribution of diluent delivery upstream of the combustor outlet.

148. The control method of claim 94, further comprising forming a NOx fluid having greater than a minimum concentration of NOx in the energetic fluid, by controlling diluent delivery upstream of the combustor outlet.

149. The control method of claim 94, further comprising forming an energetic fluid having less than a prescribed maximum concentration of NOx by controlling diluent delivery upstream of the combustor outlet.

150. The control method of claim 105, further comprising controlling the residual oxidant concentration in the cooled expanded fluid to not exceed a prescribed oxidant concentration.

151. The control method of claim 94, further comprising reducing the concentration of a contaminant from oxidant upstream of the combustor by controlling the delivery rate of diluent directly contacting oxidant.

152. An emissions control method in a heat and power system comprising an expander in fluid communication with an upstream combustor and a downstream heat exchanger;

the control method comprising;

a) delivering oxidant to the combustor;

b) delivering fuel to the combustor;

c) mixing fuel and oxidant upstream of the combustor outlet, and

combusting the fuel-oxidant mixture within the combustor,

thereby forming a product of combustion;

d) delivering diluent upstream of the expander outlet,

thereby forming an energetic fluid comprising a product of combustion, diluent vapor, and a combustion byproduct;

e) extracting mechanical power by expanding the energetic fluid in the expander, and

delivering mechanical power to a mechanical use;

thereby forming an expanded energetic fluid; and

f) extracting heat, by

delivering diluent to the heat exchanger and exchanging heat between the expanded energetic fluid and diluent;

thereby forming a cooled expanded fluid and heated diluent; and

delivering heated diluent to a thermal use; and

h) maintaining a product emission rate of a product of combustion

below a prescribed product emission rate limit; and

maintaining a byproduct emission rate of a byproduct of combustion

below a byproduct emission rate limit;

by

controlling delivery of fuel; and

by

controlling delivery of diluent within the heat and power system.

153. The emissions control method of claim 152, further comprising maintaining one of:

delivery of mechanical power to the mechanical use above a mechanical power level; and

delivery of heated diluent to a thermal use above a thermal delivery rate level;

by

controlling delivery of fuel and diluent.

154. The emissions control method of claim 153, further comprising

controlling delivery of mechanical power to the mechanical use;

and

controlling delivery of heated diluent to the thermal use;

by

controlling delivery of fuel and diluent, and

thereby controlling the product emission rate.

155. The emissions control method of claim 154, wherein the product of combustion comprises carbon dioxide, the method further comprising

controlling the product emission rate by controlling the cogeneration efficiency.

156. The emissions control method of claim 152, wherein the diluent comprises water, the product of combustion comprises carbon dioxide, and the combustion byproduct comprises oxides of nitrogen (NOx).

157. The emissions control method of claim 152, wherein combustion forms a partially oxidized fuel product, the method further comprising maintaining the partially oxidized fuel emission rate below a partially oxidized fuel emission rate limit.

158. The emissions control method of claim 157, wherein combustion forms carbon monoxide, the method further comprising maintaining the carbon monoxide emission rate below a carbon monoxide emission rate limit, by controlling the oxidant to fuel ratio, the temperature of the energetic fluid, and the residence time of energetic fluid within the combustor.

159. The emissions control method of claim 152, further comprising condensing and recovering diluent from the cooled expanded fluid, thereby forming residual cooled fluid and heated diluent.

160. The emissions control method of claim 159, further comprising contacting cooled fluid with liquid diluent, and recovering liquid diluent from residual cooled fluid,

thereby transferring particulate contaminant and/or a diluent soluble contaminant from the cooled fluid into recovered liquid diluent.

161. The emissions control method of claim 160, wherein liquid diluent comprises a chemical component which reacts with a co-reactive contaminant,

thereby forming a reaction product residing in the diluent, and transferring contaminant from cooled expanded fluid to liquid diluent.

162. The emissions control method of claim 152, further comprising:

recovering more diluent than is delivered upstream of the expander outlet;

removing diluent from the heat and power system; and

controlling the amount of diluent within the heat and power system between minimum and maximum quantity limits;

thereby transferring particulate contaminant and/or diluent soluble contaminant, from the cooled expanded fluid into diluent being removed.

163. The emission control method of claim 152, further comprising

contacting oxidant with liquid diluent upstream of the combustor,

thereby reducing a contaminant concentration in the cooled energetic fluid.

164. The emission control method of claim 152, further comprising washing fuel prior to combustion, and removing diluent comprising a soluble contaminant from fluid flowing into the expander,

thereby reducing the emissions of said soluble contaminant in the cooled expanded fluid.

165. The emission control method of claim 152 wherein the cooled expanded fluid comprises carbon dioxide having a concentration greater than about 8.5% by mass on a dry basis.

166. The emissions control method of claim 159, further comprising

treating diluent to remove particulates and/or dissolved substances;

and

delivering treated diluent upstream of the expander outlet and/or to a mechanical or thermal use;

thereby reducing contaminants in the cooled expanded fluid.