An internal combustion engine system that converts thermal energy from an exhaust of an engine to mechanical energy includes a heat exchanger thermally coupled to an exhaust from an internal combustion process. The heat exchanger receives a heat transfer fluid therein. A generator is coupled to the heat exchanger. The heat transfer fluid expands and evaporates in the generator in response to heat from the exhaust of the internal combustion process. The expansion of the heat transfer fluid vapor converts thermal energy of the heat transfer fluid to mechanical energy.
G06F 19/00 - Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific applications (specially adapted for specific functions G06F 17/00;data processing systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial, supervisory or forecasting purposes G06Q;healthcare informatics G16H)
F02D 13/02 - Controlling the engine output power by varying inlet or exhaust valve operating characteristics, e.g. timing during engine operation
F02B 75/10 - Engines with means for rendering exhaust gases innocuous
F03G 7/00 - Mechanical-power-producing mechanisms, not otherwise provided for or using energy sources not otherwise provided for
F02G 5/02 - Profiting from waste heat of exhaust gases
G05G 17/00 - Mechanical devices for moving a member after being releasedTrip or release mechanisms characterised thereby
F01N 3/04 - Exhaust or silencing apparatus having means for purifying, rendering innocuous, or otherwise treating exhaust for cooling, or for removing solid constituents of, exhaust by means of liquids
F01N 5/02 - Exhaust or silencing apparatus combined or associated with devices profiting by exhaust energy the devices using heat
A method for use in generating power in an internal combustion engine includes controlling a flow of a gas having an initial temperature and an initial pressure to a combustion chamber of the engine by a controller through an intake mechanism to provide a first mass of the gas to the chamber The combustion chamber is expanded from a minimum volume to a maximum volume in an intake stroke The maximum volume of the chamber exceeds a maximum compression volume of the chamber The first mass of the gas in the chamber has a first pressure and a first temperature at the maximum compression volume The chamber is reduced to the compression volume from the maximum volume in a compression stroke
A method for use in generating power in an internal combustion engine from combustion of a fuel admixed with an oxidizing gas and operating cyclically with intentional ignition of a first fuel or with self-ignition of a second fuel which includes changing a volume of a combustion chamber from a fixed minimum volume to a fixed maximum volume wherein the maximum volume is greater than a critical volume. The critical volume includes a volume of the chamber filled with an oxidizing gas at an initial temperature and an initial pressure such that when the temperature is compressed from the critical volume to the minimum volume the gas reaches a maximum temperature and a maximum pressure causing detonation of a first fuel, or the gas exceeds a maximum temperature and a maximum pressure predetermined for self-ignition of a second fuel. A flow of the gas is controlled into the chamber so as to provide an upper limit on the amount of the gas which fills the chamber in each chamber-filling intake part of an engine cycle. The upper limit includes a mass less than an amount of a mass of the oxidizing mass in the critical volume.
G06F 19/00 - Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific applications (specially adapted for specific functions G06F 17/00;data processing systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial, supervisory or forecasting purposes G06Q;healthcare informatics G16H)
F02D 13/02 - Controlling the engine output power by varying inlet or exhaust valve operating characteristics, e.g. timing during engine operation
F02B 75/10 - Engines with means for rendering exhaust gases innocuous