Plant for high-efficiency fuel to mechanical energy conversion

Abstract

An energy conversion plant is disclosed, having one or more driving units, for driving respective loads, such as an electric motor or a centrifugal compressor. The energy conversion plant comprises at least one heat exchange recuperator, for heating pre-compressed carbon dioxide to be fed into the driving units by the heat produced by the driving units themselves, and compression and pumping unit, for compressing the carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is also supplied by a fluid source auxiliary plants group.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure concerns a plant to fuel to mechanical energy conversion that can be used for power generation, which is based on a thermodynamic cycle, 5 for mechanically driven application and / or multiple power generation trains. The thermodynamic cycle operates through the use of a fluid, such as carbon dioxide, to transfer the energy generated by the combustion of a fuel. The conversion is high efficiency. BACKGROUND ART

[0002] In the field of power generation, fossil fuels are still mainly used. However, as 10 is well known, they have the severe drawback of producing an increase of carbon dioxide (CO2), as well as other emissions. This is one of the causes of the so-called global warming, which is supposed to be potentially dangerous and the cause of natural disasters in the future.

[0003] At the moment alternative energy production systems do not have the capabil-15 ity to replace fossil fuel combustion, at least in the short term. In particular, the power production with such alternative methods cannot satisfy the consumption needs of the evolute population.

[0004] Based on the above, the research in the field is striving to improve known power production systems based on fossil fuels or biomasses to reduce the production 20 of carbon dioxide to be introduced into the atmosphere, maintaining at the same time a high level of energy efficiency.

[0005] In addition, known power production systems based on fossil fuels or biomasses turn out to be expensive if compared with other systems. In fact, the capital expenditures and the maintenance costs increase the overall cost per Mega Watt pro-25 duced. Therefore, the design trend is that of decarbonizing mechanical drive production operation at lower capital expenditures.

[0006] Accordingly, an improved fuel to mechanical energy conversion plant, preferably capable of increasing the efficiency, and therefore, preferably reducing the carbon 2023307195   15 Jun 2026 dioxide per kilowatt produced, while preferably using the oral carbon dioxide introduced into the atmosphere, would be welcomed in the technology. [0006A] Reference to any prior art in the specification is not an acknowledgement or suggestion that this prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in any ju- 5 risdiction or that this prior art could reasonably be expected to be combined with any other piece of prior art by a skilled person in the art. SUMMARY [0006B] An aspect of the present invention provides an energy conversion plant comprising: a fluid feedback line to supply a fluid; a compression and pumping unit, to 10 compress and increase the pressure for the fluid feedback line; one or more driving units, wherein each driving unit is connected to a relevant load, and wherein each driving unit is capable of driving the relevant load through burning fuel and expanding the fluid; at least one heat exchange recuperator, connected between the fluid feedback line and the one or more driving units, and between each driving unit and the compres- 15 sion and pumping unit, and arranged for heating the fluid supplied by the fluid feedback line compressed by the compression and pumping unit to be fed into the one or more driving units, by exchanging the heat of the expanded discharged fluid from the one or more driving units, and a fluid source auxiliary plants-group, connected to the compression and pumping unit, to recover and supply additional fluid into the fluid 20 feedback line; wherein the fluid source auxiliary plants-group comprises: one or more fluid capture units, capable of generating fluid, and a compressor, connected to the fluid deriving from the one or more fluid capture units and to the compression and pumping unit, wherein the compressor is capable of compressing the fluid deriving from the one or more fluid capture units; and wherein the one or more fluid capture 25 units comprise a CO2 source from Blue hydrogen H2 plants, an Acid Gas Removal Units in LNG or gas treatment processes, a Direct Air Capture plant, and / or a CO2 residue from ASU unit of oxygen plants.

[0007] In one embodiment, the subject matter disclosed herein is directed to a fuel to mechanical energy conversion plant. The energy conversion plant has a fluid feedback 30 line to supply a fluid, specifically carbon dioxide, and a compression and pumping 2023307195   15 Jun 2026 unit, to compress and increase the pressure of the fluid feedback line. The energy conversion plant has also a plurality of driving units, each one connected to drive a relevant load, such as a compressor or an electric generator, through burning fuel and expanding the fluid. The energy conversion plant comprises one or more heat exchange 5 recuperator, connected between the fluid feedback line and the driving units, and between each driving unit and the compression and pumping unit. Each heat exchange recuperator is arranged for heating the fluid supplied by the fluid feedback line and compressed by the compression and pumping unit, to be fed into the driving units, by exchanging the heat of the expanded discharged fluid from the driving units. The en- 10 ergy conversion plant also has a fluid source auxiliary plants group, connected to the compression and pumping unit, to recover and supply additional fluid into the fluid feedback line.

[0008] In another embodiment, the subject matter disclosed herein regards that the fluid source auxiliary plants group comprises one or more plant fluid capture units, 15 capable of generating fluid, and a compressor, connected to the fluid deriving from the plant carbon dioxide capture units and to the compression and pumping unit. The compressor is capable of compressing the fluid deriving from the one or more plant carbon dioxide capture units. In addition, the fluid source auxiliary plants group comprise an additional sources, capable of generating fluid, and a compressor, connected to the 20 fluid deriving from the additional sources and to the compression and pumping unit. The compressor is capable of compressing the fluid deriving from the additional sources.

[0009] In another embodiment, the subject matter disclosed herein regards that each driving unit comprises a combustor to burn fuel, an expander, operatively connected 25 to the combustor, a rotating shaft, driven by the expander, connected to the load, namely to the compressor or the electric generator, for instance.

[0010] In another embodiment, the subject matter disclosed herein is directed to the fact that the compression and pumping unit comprises a separation unit for separating the water from the fluid coming from the driving units, after being cooled by at least 30 one heat exchanger recuperator; a compressor, for compressing and increasing the pressure of the dehumidified fluid, a heat exchanger, and a pump, for increasing the pressure of the fluid. The pump is interposed between the heat exchanger and the 2023307195   15 Jun 2026 fluid feedback line.

[0011] In further embodiment, the subject matter disclosed herein is directed to an energy conversion plant having one or more fluid extraction lines, to extract the fluid in pressure. The extraction lines may be connected to the fluid feedback line or up-5 stream the pump.

[0012] In another embodiment, the subject matter disclosed herein is directed to an fuel to mechanical energy conversion plant having a plurality of driving unit, each one connected to a relevant load, where the load can be an electric generator and / or a centrifugal compressor and / or an electric generator connected to a centrifugal compressor. 10 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] A more complete appreciation of the disclosed embodiments of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 15 Fig. 1 illustrates a schematic of a fuel to mechanical energy conversion plant according to a first embodiment; and Fig. 2 illustrates a schematic of an energy conversion plant according to a second embodiment;

[0014] In the various figures, similar parts will be indicated by the same reference 20 numbers. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0015] In the field to power generation where fossil fuels are used, it requested a reduction of carbon dioxide production, which, as it is well known, is dangerous. There are some power production layouts capable of recovering the heat using a transport fluid, to save energy. The fluid used can be carbon dioxide. According to one aspect, the present subject matter is directed to a layout of an energy conversion plant comprising a plurality of driving units for driving relevant loads, all operating based on a recovering the heat generated by the combustion of fossil fuels, conveyed by carbon dioxide. Also, the energy conversion plant is able to recover carbon also from other plants or systems that are not

[0016] Referring now to the drawings, Fig.l shows a fuel to mechanical energy conversion plant, or simply energy conversion plant, according to a first embodiment, wholly indicated with reference number 1.

[0017] In particular, the energy conversion plant 1 basically comprises a plurality of driving units 2, each one of which is connected to a respective load, as it will be better specified below, a plurality of heat exchanger recuperators 3, each one connected to one relevant driving unit 2, compression and pumping unit 4, connected to the heat exchanger recuperators 3, a fluid or carbon dioxide feedback line 5, connected between the output of the compression and pumping unit 4 and to the heat exchanger recuperator 3, and a carbon dioxide (or any other fluid) source auxiliary plants-group 6.

[0018] With continuing reference to Fig. 1, the energy conversion plant 1 comprises specifically three driving units, namely a first driving unit 21, a second driving unit 22, and a third driving unit 23.

[0019] The first driving unit 21 comprises in particular a combustor 211, and an expander 212, connected to the combustor 211. The combustor 211 has a fuel inlet 214, for the introduction of the fuel to be burned, an oxidant inlet 215, for the introduction of the additional fluid, namely carbon dioxide and pure oxygen, for the case at issue, and a fluid inlet 216, to supply the fluid to be recuperated as better explained below.

[0020] More specifically, with reference to oxidant inlet 215, this fluid can be comprised of pure oxygen or a mixture of pure oxygen and carbon dioxide, taken from the described loop in this solution. Pure oxygen is produced with industry ready production methods, like ASU - Air Separation Units or any other available system.

[0021] A rotating shaft 213 is also driven by the expander 212. Each driving unit 2 is capable of transforming the fuel and the carbon dioxide as input of the combustor 211 into mechanical energy.

[0022] Still referring to the first driving unit 21, it is connected to an electric machine E, connected to the expander 212 through the rotating shaft 213. In this case, then, the electric machine E is the load of the first driving unit 21. Therefore, by this configuration, the first driving unit 21 is capable of transforming chemical energy, obtained by burning the fuel and expanding the carbon dioxide (the fluid used), in electric energy, possibly to be introduced into the mains (not shown in the figure).

[0023] Referring now to the second driving unit 22, it also comprises a combustor 221 and an expander 222, but in this case, it is connected through the relevant rotating shaft 223 to a centrifugal compressor C, which in this case is a mechanical load. Of course, different mechanical loads can be provided, depending on the necessities, requirements, or circumstances. The expander 222 also has a fuel inlet 224, an oxidant inlet 225, and a fluid inlet 226.

[0024] Also, the third driving unit 23, which, likewise the first 21 and the second 22 driving unit, comprises a combustor 23 and an expander 232. The expander 232 has a has a fuel inlet 234, an oxidant inlet 235, and a fluid inlet 236. The fluid expander 232 is connected through the rotating shaft 233 to another centrifugal compressor C, also in this case as a mechanical load.

[0025] By the layout shown in Fig. 1, the energy conversion plant 1 drives an electric generator E, so as to produce electric energy, and two mechanical loads, namely, the centrifugal compressors C.

[0026] In some embodiments, gearboxes can be included between the driving units 21, 22, and 23 and the relevant loads, connected to the relevant rotating shafts 213, 223, and 233. The conversion ratio of the gearboxes differs according to the design needs.

[0027] In other embodiments, a different number of driving units 2 can be foreseen, depending on the number and the type of loads to be driven.

[0028] For each driving unit 2, namely the first 21, the second 22, and the third 23 driving unit, there is a relevant heat exchanger recuperator 3. Each heat exchanger -5- recuperator 3 has a first inlet 31, connected to a carbon dioxide feedback line 5, through which high pressure, low-temperature carbon dioxide enters into each one of the heat exchanger recuperators 3, and a first outlet 32, connected to the combustor 211 of the relevant driving unit 2, and specifically to the fluid inlet 216, through which high pressure and high-temperature carbon dioxide are introduced into the combustor of the relevant driving unit 2, e.g., with reference to the first driving unit 21, the combustor 211.

[0029] Also, each heat exchanger recuperator 3 has a second inlet 33, connected to the expander of the relevant driving unit 2, e.g., with reference to the first driving unit 21, the expander 212, through the turbine discharge stream, where the low pressure-high temperature of the carbon dioxide here used as the fluid, enters into the heat exchanger recuperator 3, and a second outlet 34, connected to the compression and pumping system 4, as better explained below, where the low pressure, low-temperature fluid (the carbon dioxide) is extracted from the heat exchanger recuperator 3.

[0030] The heat exchanger recuperator 3 is configured to heat the high pressure (detail on the pressure and temperature operating ranges of the fluid, namely the carbon dioxide, are given in the following) before being introduced into driving unit 2 and being expanded by the combustion of the fuel, so as to drive the load connected thereto, namely the electric generator E, or the centrifugal compressor C. The heat exchanger recuperator 3 through the heated carbon oxide of the discharge stream of the related driving unit 2 heats the carbon oxide coming from the carbon dioxide feedback line 5. In other words, the heat exchanger recuperator 3 cools the fluid (the carbon dioxide), transferring its heat to the high-pressure fluid coming from the carbon dioxide feedback line 5, before introducing it into a driving unit 2.

[0031] The heat exchanger recuperator 3 can comprise one or more heat exchangers, to allow an improved extraction of the heat from the carbon dioxide feedback line 5.

[0032] Still referring to Fig. 1, it is possible to see that the compression and pumping unit 4 is connected between the second outlet 34 of each driving unit 3, and the carbon dioxide feedback line 5. The compression and pumping unit 4 has the function of separating the water and in general the humid part from the fluid, and increase the pressure of fluid, before being reheated by the heat exchanger recuperator 3.

[0033] The compression and pumping unit 4 shown in the first embodiment of the energy conversion plant 1 of Fig 1 comprises a separation unit 41, a compressor 42, a heat exchanger 43, and a pump 44, series-connected.

[0034] In other embodiments a plurality of sets of compressors and pumps can be present as well, possibly operating in parallel.

[0035] The separation unit 41 comprises an inlet 411, where the discharge stream coming from each driving unit 21, 22, and 23 is collected, and an outlet 412. The separation unit 41 separates the liquid water from the discharge stream coming from each driving unit 21, 22, and 23, after being cooled by the heat exchanger recuperators 3, and from the carbon dioxide source auxiliary plants-group 6, as better explained below.

[0036] After that the fluid is dehumidified by the separation unit 41, the compressor 42, connected to the outlet 412 of the separation unit 41, compresses it, thus, increasing the pressure of the same.

[0037] Then the fluid passes through the heat exchanger 43, so that the temperature of the fluid is brought to the ambient temperature.

[0038] Eventually, the fluid passes through pump 44, which increases the pressure of the fluid, before introducing the same into the carbon dioxide feedback line 5, which, as mentioned above, is connected to the first inlet 31 of the heat exchanger recuperator 3.

[0039] Also, the carbon dioxide feedback line 5 includes a carbon dioxide extraction line 51, whereby it is possible to extract pressurized carbon dioxide from the plant 1. The advantage and the operation of the extraction line 51 will be better explained below.

[0040] The carbon dioxide source auxiliary plants-group 6 comprises in the embodiment shown, a carbon dioxide capture unit, indicated with the reference number 61, which generate or collect carbon dioxide, having a compressor 611, to compress the carbon dioxide deriving from the plant carbon dioxide capture units, and connected to the outlet 412 (or alternatively to the inlet 411) of the separation unit 41. The carbon dioxide source auxiliary plants-group 6 comprises also an additional carbon dioxide source, wholly indicated with the reference number 62, which is connected downstream to a relevant compressor 621, to compress the carbon dioxide deriving from the general other carbon dioxide sources 621, and connected to the outlet 412 (or alternatively to the inlet 411) of the separation unit 41.

[0041] Further carbon dioxide capture units 61 or in general additional carbon dioxide sources 62 may be added.

[0042] Specifically, the carbon dioxide capture units 61 or the carbon dioxide sources 62 may comprise, for example, a (CO2) source from Blue hydrogen (H2) plants (e.g.: Auto Thermal Reforming), an Acid Gas Removal Units in LNG or gas treatment processes, a Direct Air Capture plant, and / or a (CO2) residue from ASU unit of oxygen (O2) plant(s).

[0043] The operation of the energy conversion plant 1 operates as follows.

[0044] The fuel and the fluid, namely, in the case at issue, the carbon dioxide, enter into the combustor of each driving unit 2 through the fuel inlet, the oxidant inlet, and the fluid inlet. In particular, the fuel and the carbon dioxide entering into the combustor 211 of the first driving unit 21, the combustor 221 of the second driving unit 22, and the combustor 231 of the third driving unit 23. Then, the expander of each driving unit 2 drives the relevant load. More specifically, the expander 212 of the first driving unit 21 drives the electric generator E, while the expander 222 of the second driving unit 22, as well as the expander 232 of the third driving unit 23 drives the relevant centrifugal compressor C (or a plurality of compressors).

[0045] From each expander 212, 222, and 232, the carbon dioxide, which now is expanded but has a high temperature, in view of the combustion reaction, is introduced into the second inlet 33 of the heat exchanger recuperator 3. In particular, in the energy conversion plant 1 according to the first embodiment, the temperature is comprised between 500-700 °C, and the pressure is comprised between 20-40 bar. Different temperature ranges can be foreseen, depending on the type of driving unit 2 installed and the load each unit is operating at.

[0046] Then, the fluid, after passing through the heat exchanger recuperators 3, is cooled so that the temperature is brought to around ambient temperature, while the pressure is almost the same. The fluid, namely the carbon dioxide, comes out from the heat exchanger recuperators 3, to reach the inlet 411 (or the outlet 412) of the compression and pumping unit 4. In particular, the water is extracted from the fluid through the separation unit 41 and discharged by a drain pipe 45.

[0047] The fluid, before being compressed by the compressor 42, is at ambient temperature and at an almost unchanged pressure, namely, it remains at about 20-40 bar, while the temperature depends on the cooling temperature of the cooling media. As mentioned before, additional carbon dioxide is added to the stream, coming from the compressors 611 and 621 of the carbon dioxide source auxiliary plants group 6, generated from the plant carbon dioxide capture units 61 and the carbon dioxide sources 62, which reach the outlet 412 of the separation unit 41.

[0048] The carbon dioxide collected at the outlet 412 of the separation unit 41 enters the compressor 42. After the compressor 42, the temperature of the fluid depends on the compressor(s) 42 architecture (the compressor 42 may be intercooled or not), while the pressure is increased to 60-100 bar.

[0049] Then fluid passes through the heat exchanger 43, after which it is at the same pressure of 60-100 bar and it is back at cooling fluid / room temperature.

[0050] Finally, the pressure of the fluid is increased up to 250-350 bar, through the pump 44, with the temperature depending on the pump(s) 44 architecture. In fact, the pumps 44 in some embodiments may be equipped with an intercooler (or not), depending on the pump design. The fluid at ambient temperature and at the pressure of 250350 bar is then introduced into the carbon dioxide feedback line 5.

[0051] As mentioned before, the feedback line 5, before entering the heat exchangers 3, has an extraction line 51, which is capable of extracting part of the carbon dioxide (CO2) directly in pressurized and pure condition. The quantity of the carbon dioxide extracted is such that the feedback line 5 header pressure is maintained relatively constant (between 250-350 bar), while the quantity is subject to the load of the plant is running at. In other words, the carbon dioxide extracted from the extraction line 51 is directly linked to the fuel consumed by the plant 1.

[0052] In other embodiments, the extraction line 51 can also be placed before (upstream) the pump 44 suction, in case the carbon dioxide product is needed at lower pressures by possible other end user / applications. Therefore, the fuel to mechanical energy conversion plant 1 has the additional advantage to have the function to produce pure carbon dioxide at possible different pressures. Additionally, more than one extraction lines can be provided in the energy conversion plant 1, connected in different areas or points of the carbon dioxide circuit, to extract the carbon dioxide at different pressures, according to the necessities.

[0053] The feedback line 5, as mentioned above, connects the pump 44 to the first inlet 31 of the heat exchanger recuperators 3. Passing through the heat exchanger recuperators 3, the carbon dioxide undergoes an increase of temperature, keeping the same pressure. In this way, before entering each of the driving units 21, 22 or 23, the fluid has a pressure of 250-350 bar, and the temperature between 500-700 °C.

[0054] As it is clear, the energy conversion plant 1 can drive three different loads, even different from each other, through a low emission of carbon dioxide, which is used as fluid to be compressed and increased in temperature, using a thermodynamic cycle where a heat exchanger recuperator 3 recovers part of the heat generated by the driving unit 2 and in particular by the expanders.

[0055] In this way, it is obtained carbon dioxide directly captured in pressurized form, while maintaining an high efficiency of the plant 1, which turns out also to the reduction of the capital expenditure for the maintenance of the energy conversion plant 1 itself.

[0056] Thanks to the integration of the carbon dioxide source auxiliary plants group 6, with negligible operating flows adjustments of the compression and pumping units (~5%), it is possible to compress all the carbon dioxide (CO2) streams and send them to the storage of the plant. This design approach minimizes the CAPEX of the solution, since it requires less compression trains, while increasing the availability of the plant since the capture system relies on the main power generation cycle of the plant itself. Any upset condition of the carbon dioxide streams (systems down or unavailable) does not affect the cycle operation, since the flow variation is marginal.

[0057] Referring now to Fig. 2, a second embodiment of the energy conversion plant 1 can be seen. In particular, the layout of the plant 1 is the same as that of the first embodiment, but it provides only one driving unit 21.

[0058] Also, the compressors 611 and 621 of the carbon dioxide source auxiliary plants-group 6 can be either connected to the outlet 412 of the separation unit 41, likewise the first embodiment of Fig. 1 (see solid lines out of the compressors 611 and 612), or to the inlet 411 of the separation unit 41 (see dashed lines out of the compressors 611 and 612). In this latter case, the compressed carbon dioxide is gathered with that coming from the second outlet 34 of the recuperator 3.

[0059] Also, in a variant, the electric machine E may be connected to the rotating shaft 223, and the centrifugal compressor C may be connected downstream the electric machine E. With this layout, the electric generator / machine E is capable of operating as a helper motor of the centrifugal compressor C, as well as a generator. The electric machine E is in fact connected to an electric conversion unit (not shown here for simplicity) which allows the same to operate both as helper motor as well as generator, in case the expander 212 has some excess of power that can be converted into electric energy.

[0060] The operation of power generation plant 1 of the second embodiment is the same of that of the first embodiment.

[0061] An advantage of the present solution is that the plant efficiency is increased and it is possible to allow a direct capture of carbon dioxide at high pressure.

[0062] It is also an advantage of the solution that no electric motors-driven compressor trains are required, thus reducing the overall capital expenditure of the plant. Also, a flat power output at ambient temperature is achieved, with an increased efficiency. Also, it is possible to apply the solution in brown field (retrofit) as well as green field.

[0063] While aspects of the invention have been described in terms of various specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications, changes, and omissions are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims. In addition, unless specified otherwise herein, the order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments.

[0064] Reference has been made in detail to embodiments of the disclosure, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the disclosure, not limitation of the disclosure. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be 5 made in the present disclosure without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure. Reference throughout the specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" or “some embodiments” means that the particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the subject matter disclosed. Thus, the appearance of the phrase "in one embodi-10 ment" or "in an embodiment" or "in some embodiments" in various places throughout the specification is not necessarily referring to the same embodiment(s). Further, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

[0065] When elements of various embodiments are introduced, the articles “a”, “an”, 15 “the”, and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including”, and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.

Claims

1. An energy conversion plant comprising: a fluid feedback line to supply a fluid;5            a compression and pumping unit, to compress and increase the pressure forthe fluid feedback line;one or more driving units,wherein each driving unit is connected to a relevant load, andwherein each driving unit is capable of driving the relevant load10           through burning fuel and expanding the fluid;at least one heat exchange recuperator,connected between the fluid feedback line and the one or more driving units, and between each driving unit and the compression and pumping unit, and15                     arranged for heating the fluid supplied by the fluid feedback linecompressed by the compression and pumping unit to be fed into the one or more driving units, by exchanging the heat of the expanded discharged fluid from the one or more driving units, anda fluid source auxiliary plants-group, connected to the compression and20 pumping unit, to recover and supply additional fluid into the fluid feedback line;wherein the fluid source auxiliary plants-group comprises:one or more fluid capture units, capable of generating fluid, anda compressor, connected to the fluid deriving from the one or more fluid capture units and to the compression and pumping unit, wherein the25            compressor is capable of compressing the fluid deriving from the one or morefluid capture units; andwherein the one or more fluid capture units comprise a CO2 source from Blue hydrogen H2 plants, an Acid Gas Removal Units in LNG or gas treatment processes, a Direct Air Capture plant, and / or a CO2 residue from ASU unit of oxygen plants.

302. The energy conversion plant of claim 1, wherein the fluid source auxiliary plants-group comprises:one or more additional fluid sources, capable of generating fluid, anda compressor, connected to the fluid deriving from the additional fluid sources2023307195   15 Jun 2026and to the compression and pumping unit, wherein the compressor is capable of compressing the fluid deriving from the additional fluid sources.

3. The energy conversion plant of claim 2, wherein the fluid sources5 comprise a CO2 source from Blue hydrogen plants, an Acid Gas Removal Units in LNG or gas treatment processes, a Direct Air Capture plant, and / or a CO2 residue from ASU unit of oxygen plants.

4. The energy conversion plant of claim 1, wherein the compression 10 and pumping unit comprises:at least one separation unit for separating the water from the fluid coming from the one or more driving units, after being cooled by at least one heat exchanger recuperator;at least one compressor, for compressing the dehumidified fluid and increas-15 ing the pressure of the fluid;at least one heat exchanger; andat least one pump operable for increasing the pressure of the fluid, wherein the pump is connected between the heat exchanger and the fluid feedback line.20           5. The energy conversion plant of claim 4,wherein the separation unit comprises an inlet, on which the discharge stream coming from the driving unit is collected, and an outlet.

6. The energy conversion plant of claim 5,25           wherein the compressor connected to the fluid capture units is connected tothe outlet or to the inlet of the separation unit.

7. The energy conversion plant of claim 6, wherein the fluid source auxiliary plants-group comprises:30                     one or more additional fluid sources, capable of generating fluid, anda compressor, connected to the fluid deriving from the additional fluid sources and to the compression and pumping unit, wherein the compressor is capable of compressing the fluid deriving from the additional fluid sources; and2023307195   15 Jun 2026wherein the compressor connected to the additional fluid sources is connected to the outlet or to the inlet of the separation unit.

8. The energy conversion plant of claim 7, wherein the pump increases 5 the pressure of the fluid up to 250-350 bar.

9. The energy conversion plant of claim 4, wherein the compressor increases the pressure of the fluid up to 60-100 bar.10            10. The energy conversion plant of claim 1, comprising at least one extraction line of the fluid, to extract the fluid in pressure, wherein the extraction line is connected to the fluid feedback line.

11. The energy conversion plant of claim 10,15           wherein the compression and pumping unit comprises:at least one separation unit for separating the water from the fluid coming from the driving units, after being cooled by at least one heat exchanger recuperator;at least one compressor, for compressing the dehumidified fluid and20            increasing the pressure of the fluid;at least one heat exchanger; andat least one pump operable for increasing the pressure of the fluid, wherein the pump is connected between the heat exchanger and the fluid feedback line; and25           wherein the extraction line is connected upstream the pump.

12. The energy conversion plant of claim 11, comprising: a plurality of driving units; anda heat exchange recuperator for each driving unit;30           wherein each heat exchange recuperator is connected between the fluid feedback line and the relevant driving unit, and between the relevant driving unit and the compression and pumping unit, andwherein each heat exchange recuperator is arranged for heating the fluid sup-2023307195   15 Jun 2026plied by the fluid feedback line before it is fed into the relevant driving unit by exchanging the heat of the expanded discharged fluid from the relevant driving units.

13. The energy conversion plant of claim 1, comprising a single heat 5 exchange recuperator, connected between the fluid feedback line and each driving unit, and between each driving unit and the compression and pumping unit.

14. The energy conversion plant of claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises mainly carbon dioxide.1015. The energy conversion plant of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger recuperator can comprise one or more heat exchangers.

16. The energy conversion plant of any one of the preceding claims,15           wherein each driving unit comprises:a combustor, havinga fuel inlet, for the introduction of the fuel to be burned, and an oxidant inlet, to supply oxidant to the combustor, a fluid inlet, to supply the fluid to be expanded,20                    an expander, operatively connected to the combustor,a rotating shaft, driven by the expander, connected to the load;wherein the heat exchanger recuperator hasa first inlet, connected to the carbon dioxide feedback line,a first outlet, connected to the fluid inlet of the combustor of the rel-25            evant driving unit,at least one second inlet, connected to the expanders of at least one driving unit, anda second outlet, connected to the compression and pumping system.30            17. The energy conversion plant of claim 16, wherein the heat exchangerrecuperator has a plurality of second inlets, each one connected to one relevant expander of a driving unit.

18. The energy conversion plant of claim 1, wherein the temperature of2023307195   15 Jun 2026the fluid heated by the heat exchange recuperator supplied by the fluid feedback line to be fed into the driving units is between 500-700 °C.

19. The energy conversion plant of claim 1, comprising5            a first driving unit connected to a relevant load; anda second driving unit connected to a relevant load.

20. The energy conversion plant of claim 19, wherein the load of the first driving unit is an electric generator; and10            wherein the load of the second driving unit is an electric generator.

21. The energy conversion plant of claim 19, comprising a third driving unit connected to a relevant load.15

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