Abstract: A method of operating an electric or hybrid system comprising a synchronous reluctance electric motor coupled to an electric or hybrid powertrain is described herein. The method comprises determining (i) a torque demand required of the electric motor and (ii) a speed of rotation of the rotor of the electric motor, and storing kinetic energy in a rotor of the electric motor from the powertrain in response to at least one of (i) the determined torque demand falling below a selected torque demand threshold and (ii) the speed of the rotor being below a selected rotor speed threshold. The method further comprises operating the electric motor by powering the electric motor with electricity to deliver energy to the powertrain in response to at least one of: (i) the determined torque demand rising above a selected torque demand threshold and (ii) the speed of the rotor falling below a selected rotor speed threshold.

Abstract: A process for removing hydrocarbons from a feed stream containing hydrocarbons includes introducing ozone to the feed stream to produce an ozone doped stream containing ozone and hydrocarbons, and contacting the ozone doped stream with a supported metal catalyst at a temperature of from 100° C. to 300° C. to produce a treated stream, wherein the supported metal catalyst comprises iron supported on a support selected from aluminosilicates, silica-aluminas, silicates and aluminas. A process for removing NOx from a feed stream containing NOx, and an apparatus for removing hydrocarbons and/or NOx from a feed stream containing hydrocarbons and/or NOx are also provided.

Abstract: A split cycle internal combustion engine comprising a compression cylinder accommodating a compression piston; a combustion cylinder accommodating a combustion piston; a crossover passage between the compression cylinder and the combustion cylinder arranged to provide working fluid to the combustion cylinder; a controller arranged to determine a peak temperature of combustion in the combustion cylinder based on a received indication of a peak temperature of combustion in the combustion cylinder; and a coolant system arranged to regulate a temperature of the working fluid supplied to the combustion cylinder; wherein, in response to determining that the peak temperature of combustion exceeds a selected threshold, the controller is configured to control the coolant system to regulate the temperature of the working fluid supplied to the combustion cylinder so that a peak temperature of combustion in the combustion cylinder is less than the selected threshold.

Abstract: A process for removing hydrocarbons from a feed stream containing hydrocarbons includes introducing ozone to the feed stream to produce an ozone doped stream containing ozone and hydrocarbons, and contacting the ozone doped stream with a supported metal catalyst at a temperature of from 100° C. to 300° C. to produce a treated stream, wherein the supported metal catalyst comprises iron supported on a support selected from aluminosilicates, silica-aluminas, silicates and aluminas. A process for removing NOx from a feed stream containing NOx, and an apparatus for removing hydrocarbons and/or NOx from a feed stream containing hydrocarbons and/or NOx are also provided.

Abstract: A liquid coolant injector for injecting a liquid coolant into a cylinder of a split cycle engine, wherein the liquid coolant has been condensed into a liquid phase via a refrigeration process, the injector comprising, a thermally insulating housing, a liquid coolant inlet, a liquid coolant outlet in fluid communication with the liquid coolant inlet via a liquid coolant flow path wherein the liquid coolant flow path extends through the thermally insulating housing, the thermally insulating housing configured to inhibit vaporisation of the liquid coolant within the liquid coolant flow path, a valve closure member, moveable between a first position in which the valve closure member blocks the liquid coolant flow path and a second position in which the liquid coolant may flow from the liquid coolant inlet to the liquid coolant outlet, and, a driver operable to move the valve closure member between the first and second position in response to a control signal.

Abstract: A split cycle internal combustion engine apparatus includes a combustion cylinder accommodating a combustion piston and a compression cylinder accommodating a compression piston. The apparatus is arranged to provide compressed fluid to the combustion cylinder. The compression cylinder is coupled to a first liquid coolant reservoir and a second liquid coolant reservoir. A controller is arranged to receive an indication of at least one parameter associated with the engine, and control delivery of at least one of the first liquid coolant from the first liquid coolant reservoir and the second liquid coolant from the second liquid coolant reservoir to the compression cylinder based on the indication of the at least one parameter such that the at least one liquid coolant vaporises into a gaseous phase during a compression stroke.

Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder and a piston, the method including injecting into the cylinder, as a liquid, a fuel which has been condensed into its liquid phase via a refrigeration process, such that the fuel vaporises into its gaseous phase during a compression stroke of the piston and before combustion such that a rise in temperature caused by the compression stroke is limited by the absorption of heat by the fuel.

Abstract: A split cycle internal combustion engine includes a combustion cylinder accommodating a combustion piston and a compression cylinder accommodating a compression piston. The engine also includes a controller arranged to receive an indication of a parameter associated with the combustion cylinder and/or a fluid associated therewith and to control an exhaust valve of the combustion cylinder in dependence on the indicated parameter to cause the exhaust valve to close during the return stroke of the combustion piston, before the combustion piston has reached its top dead centre position (TDC), when the indicated parameter is less than a target value for the parameter; and close on completion of the return stroke of the combustion piston, as the combustion piston reaches its top dead centre position (TDC), when the indicated parameter is equal to or greater than the target value for the parameter.

Abstract: A process for removing hydrocarbons from a feed stream containing hydrocarbons includes introducing ozone to the feed stream to produce an ozone doped stream containing ozone and hydrocarbons, and contacting the ozone doped stream with a supported metal catalyst at a temperature of from 100° C. to 300° C. to produce a treated stream, wherein the supported metal catalyst comprises iron supported on a support selected from aluminosilicates, silica-aluminas, silicates and aluminas. A process for removing NOx from a feed stream containing NOx, and an apparatus for removing hydrocarbons and/or NOx from a feed stream containing hydrocarbons and/or NOx are also provided.

Abstract: A split-cycle engine includes a compression cylinder having a first volume for a first working fluid and a second volume for a second working fluid, the first volume and second volume being separated by the compression piston, an expansion cylinder having a first volume for the first working fluid and a second volume for the second working fluid, the first volume and second volume being separated by the expansion piston, and a fluid coupling between the second volume of the compression cylinder and the second volume of the expansion cylinder, wherein the two second volumes and the fluid coupling provide a closed volume for the second working fluid, wherein the fluid coupling includes a regenerator arranged such that the two second volumes are thermally decoupled.

Abstract: A split-cycle engine includes a compression cylinder having a first volume for a first working fluid and a second volume for a second working fluid, the first volume and second volume being separated by the compression piston, an expansion cylinder having a first volume for the first working fluid and a second volume for the second working fluid, the first volume and second volume being separated by the expansion piston, and a fluid coupling between the second volume of the compression cylinder and the second volume of the expansion cylinder, wherein the two second volumes and the fluid coupling provide a closed volume for the second working fluid, wherein the fluid coupling includes a regenerator arranged such that the two second volumes are thermally decoupled.

Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder and a piston, the method including injecting into the cylinder, as a liquid, a fuel which has been condensed into its liquid phase via a refrigeration process, such that the fuel vaporises into its gaseous phase during a compression stroke of the piston and before combustion such that a rise in temperature caused by the compression stroke is limited by the absorption of heat by the fuel.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided comprising a flywheel (112) for storing kinetic energy and an electrical machine (190) mechanically coupled to the flywheel and arranged for conversion between mechanical and electrical energy. The apparatus is arranged for transferring energy between the flywheel and a vehicle transmission via a variable ratio transmission (182). The electrical machine is coupled to the flywheel via a disconnect clutch which comprises a magnetic coupling (116).

Abstract: An apparatus includes first and second movable members for coupling force therebetween and a magnetic flux coupling element. Each of the first and second movable members has an array of magnetic poles. The first and second movable members are arranged concentrically for relative rotation therebetween. The magnetic flux coupling element is arranged between the first and second movable members, thereby providing a flux density region of relatively high magnetic flux density between a pole of the first movable member and a pole of the second movable member. The magnetic flux coupling element is split along an axis orthogonal to a direction of motion of the first and second movable members into a plurality of flux coupling parts.

Abstract: A coupling apparatus (20) is provided for transferring energy to or from a flywheel. The coupling apparatus comprises first (22) and second (24) movable members, each having one or magnets (30, 34) arranged thereon, wherein the first movable member (22) is arranged to be coupled to a flywheel. The magnetic strength of a first magnet (30) arranged on the first movable member (22) exceeds the magnetic strength of a second magnet (34) arranged on the second movable member (24).

Abstract: A magnetic gear comprising: first and second members arranged for relative movement therebetween, the first member having a first array of magnetic field generating elements and the second member having a second array of magnetic field generating elements; and a coupling member having an array of coupling elements for coupling magnetic flux between the first array of magnetic field generating elements and the second array of magnetic field generating elements, wherein for at least one of the coupling elements, there is provided a cooling path in thermal communication with the at least one coupling element, wherein the cooling path is provided within at least one of the at least one coupling element and the coupling member.

Abstract: A method of creating a simplified computer implementable engine model includes obtaining a complete computer implementable engine model and selecting, from the complete engine model, elements defining the simplified engine model. The method further includes obtaining from a library of rules at least one computer implementable model creation rule corresponding to the selected elements and using that at least one rule to create the simplified computer implementable engine model.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a flywheel for energy storage, specifically a method for finely balancing the flywheel during manufacture, the method being especially useful in conjunction with flywheels having a composite construction, and the method also being suitable for simultaneously proving the structural integrity of the flywheel.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transmitting torque from a flywheel inside a vacuum chamber to a driveshaft outside the vacuum chamber includes constructing a magnetic gear coupling using a pair of permanent magnet arrays having magnetic flux coupling elements arranged in the vacuum chamber wall therebetween so as to effectively couple magnetic flux between the arrays.

Abstract: A piston for a four valve direct injection diesel engine defines a combustion chamber comprising a recess (10) in the piston crown, which is rotationally symmetrical about the axis of the piston in axial cross-section and is defined by a base and a side wall. A generally conical projection (5) is upstanding from the base. The recess (10) includes a lower toroidal portion (8) and an upper portion (10), whose diameter progressively increases towards the piston crown. The upper and lower portions of the recess are separated by an annular, arcuate lip (12) extending into the recess.