Systems and methods for balancing thrust loads in a heat engine system

A turbopump system includes a pump portion including a housing having a pressure release passageway disposed therein. The pump portion is disposed between a high pressure side and a low pressure side of a working fluid circuit. A drive turbine is coupled to the pump portion and configured to drive the pump portion to enable the pump portion to circulate a working fluid through the working fluid circuit. A pressure release valve is fluidly coupled to the pressure release passageway and configured to be positioned in an opened position to enable pressure to be released through the pressure release passageway and in a closed position to disable pressure from being released through the pressure release passageway. 种涡轮泵系统，所述涡轮泵系统包括泵部，所述泵部包括壳体，该壳体具有设置在其中的压力释放通道。所述泵部设置在工作流体回路的高压侧与低压侧之间。驱动涡轮联接至所述泵部并且构造为驱动所述泵部以便使得所述泵部能够使工作流体循环通过所述工作流体回路。泄压阀流体地联接至所述压力释放通道并且构造为：定位在打开位置中以便使得压力能够通过所述压力释放通道被释放、以及定位在关闭位置中以便使得压力不能够通过所述压力释放通道被释放。