Patent ID: 8616323

Claim:
A hybrid power generation system, comprising: a thermodynamic working fluid in a first thermodynamic cycle; a pump; a motor; a high pressure accumulator; a low pressure reservoir; a first thermodynamic cycle mass regulator operable to control the total mass of the thermodynamic working fluid within the first thermodynamic cycle; a control system and at least one valve configured to control a mass flow of the thermodynamic working fluid into and out of the high pressure accumulator; at least one heat exchanger; a heat pump system in a second thermodynamic cycle; and at least one valve configured to regulate a mass flow of the thermodynamic working fluid in the second thermodynamic cycle, wherein the second thermodynamic cycle is configured to operate independent of the first thermodynamic cycle by drawing the thermodynamic working fluid from the high pressure accumulator; wherein the first thermodynamic cycle has a high pressure stage at a first pressure, the second thermodynamic cycle has a high pressure stage at a second pressure, and the second pressure is less than the first pressure; and wherein the thermodynamic working fluid comprises carbon dioxide and is in a supercritical state.