Power generation systems and methods

A power generation system comprising:

• a plurality of mechanical devices, each mechanical device comprising a pump configured to be powered, in operation, by mechanical energy to output a pressurized output liquid flow in a device output conduit, each mechanical device comprising a device input conduit adapted to receive low pressure fluid;
• one or more main output conduits connected with the device output conduits of the mechanical devices, wherein a higher number of device output conduits of smaller cross section is joined to form a lower number of one or more main output conduits of larger cross section to combine pressurized output flows output from the mechanical devices into a lower number of pressurized flows;
• the one or more main output conduits of larger cross section delivering, in operation, the lower number of pressurized flows to a location remote of the mechanical devices for power generation;
• and
• one or more low pressure conduits, distinct from said one or more main output conduits, and located, in fluid communication, between the location remote of the mechanical devices and the device input conduits of the mechanical devices, wherein a lower number of one or more low pressure conduits of larger cross section divides into a higher number of device input conduits of smaller cross section to deliver, in operation, a lower number of low pressure flows from the location remote of the mechanical devices to the higher number of device input conduits, and
• wherein a returning low pressure flow returning from the location remote of the mechanical devices is separated into individual flows to allow each individual flow to return to the plurality of mechanical devices via said respective low pressure conduits, such that the pressurized output liquid flow and the returning low pressure flow comprise liquid that is continuously recycled.