Processes and apparatus for recovering energy from a petroleum, petrochemical, or chemical process are disclosed. The process comprises providing a fluid process stream in a petroleum, petrochemical, or chemical process zone having a direct current power input; controlling a flow rate of the process stream by directing at least a portion of the process stream through a first power-recovery turbine to generate electric power as direct current therefrom; and providing the recovered direct current to the direct current power input of the process zone.