Abstract: 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.
Abstract: 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.
Abstract: 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.
Abstract: 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. The compression volume is about a volume of the chamber such that the first mass of the gas at the first pressure and the first temperature in the chamber is less than a maximum mass detonating with a fuel by the end of the compression stroke in a gasoline engine.