Uninterruptible power is supplied to a load connected to a power
line by connecting the power line to a rotatable member that includes a Rankine
cycle turbine coupled to a device that operates as a motor when line power is operative
thereby rotating the member at a standby rotational speed so that a predetermined
amount of kinetic energy is stored in the rotating member, and that operates as
a generator when the line power is inoperative and the member is rotated by the
application of vaporized working fluid to the turbine. Working fluid is vaporized
and maintained at an operational temperature level only when the line power is
inoperative. The working fluid is held at a standby temperature level, preferably
greater than the operational temperature level, while the power line is operative
whereby the working fluid contains a predetermined amount of stored thermal energy
while the power line is operative. In response to loss of line power, vaporized
working fluid is applied to the turbine thereby rotating the rotatable member whereby
the turbine rotates the member at a nominal operational speed that preferably is
less than the standby rotational speed. Finally, in response to the loss of line
power the device is connected to the load whereby the stored thermal energy in
the working fluid and the stored kinetic energy in the rotating member are converted
by the device to power for the load.