Abstract: A two-stroke internal combustion engine for varying the compression ratio and the area of an exhaust port of a cylinder includes at least one piston reciprocable within a cylinder, an exhaust port opened and closed by the piston during the reciprocal motion thereof, moveable shutter means for varying the effective area of the exhaust port, a compression ratio variation mechanism for varying a compression ratio of the cylinder, sensor means for measuring one or more operating characteristics of the engine and for generating signals corresponding thereto, and a control unit which processes the signals generated by the sensor means and controls the motion of the shutter means accordingly and controls the compression ratio variation mechanism to vary the compression ratio of the cylinder; wherein the engine can operate with a compression ratio in the range 30:1 to 50:1.

Abstract: With reference to FIG.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of blending a multi-component blended fuel. The method comprises selecting as a starting reference a known multi-component blended fuel (e.g. a blend of gasoline and ethanol) which is in use by an internal combustion engine which operates SI or HCCI combustion. The method comprises blending an alternative fuel which can be used by the same engine without modification of the engine, including without modifying the operating regime employed by its engine management system. The alternative fuel is a blend comprising all of the components of the known fuel and an additional fuel component (e.g. methanol). The blend components are blended in proportions which give to the alternative fuel: a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio by mass or by volume substantially equal to that of the known blended fuel; and/or a lower heating valve (e.g.

Abstract: The present invention relates to (with reference to FIG. 2) a gas turbine system comprising: a gas compressor (210); an upstream heat source, e.g. a fuel cell (212), which receives gas compressed by the compressor (210) and heats the gas passing therethrough (and when a fuel cell generates electrical power); an intermediate turbine (220) which receives the gas previously heated in the upstream heat source and which is connected to and drives the compressor (210); and an output turbine (240) which receives gas output by the intermediate turbine (220). Expanded gas leaving the intermediate turbine passes to the output turbine through either or both of a downstream combustion chamber and/or a downstream fuel cell, whereby the expanded gas is reheated prior to expansion in the output turbine (240). Preferably the system is configured such that the temperature of the gas received by the output turbine (240) is higher than the temperature of the gas received by the intermediate turbine (220).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine comprising: a plurality of combustion chambers (41,42,43,44); an air induction system (45,45A,45B,46,47) for delivering air to each combustion chamber (41,42,43,44); a fuel system for delivering fuel to each combustion chamber (41,42,43,44); an exhaust system (48,50) for relaying combusted gases from the combustion chambers (41,42,43,44) to atmosphere; and an exhaust recirculation system (49,51) to relay combusted gases from the exhaust system (48,50) to at least one of the combustion chambers (42,43). The engine has a chamber deactivation operating mode in which at least one combustion chamber (41,44) is active and receives fuel and air which are combusted therein and at least one other combustion chamber (42,43) is deactivated and is supplied with no fuel by the fuel system. In the chamber deactivation operating mode the exhaust gas recirculation system (49,51) supplies combusted gas to the (or each) deactivated combustion chamber (42,43).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine comprising: a plurality of combustion chambers (41,42,43,44); an air induction system (45,45A,45B,46,47) for delivering air to each combustion chamber (41,42,43,44); a fuel system for delivering fuel to each combustion chamber (41,42,43,44); an exhaust system (48,50) for relaying combusted gases from the combustion chambers (41,42,43,44) to atmosphere; and an exhaust recirculation system (49,51) to relay combusted gases from the exhaust system (48,50) to at least one of the combustion chambers (42,43). The engine has a chamber deactivation operating mode in which at least one combustion chamber (41,44) is active and receives fuel and air which are combusted therein and at least one other combustion chamber (42,43) is deactivated and is supplied with no fuel by the fuel system. In the chamber deactivation operating mode the exhaust gas recirculation system (49,51) supplies combusted gas to the (or each) deactivated combustion chamber (42,43).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine comprising: a plurality of combustion chambers (41,42,43,44); an air induction system (45,45A,45B,46,47) for delivering air to each combustion chamber (41,42,43,44); a fuel system for delivering fuel to each combustion chamber (41,42,43,44); an exhaust system (48,50) for relaying combusted gases from the combustion chambers (41,42,43,44) to atmosphere; and an exhaust recirculation system (49,51) to relay combusted gases from the exhaust system (48,50) to at least one of the combustion chambers (42,43). The engine has a chamber deactivation operating mode in which at least one combustion chamber (41,44) is active and receives fuel and air which are combusted therein and at least one other combustion chamber (42,43) is deactivated and is supplied with no fuel by the fuel system. In the chamber deactivation operating mode the exhaust gas recirculation system (49,51) supplies combusted gas to the (or each) deactivated combustion chamber (42,43).

Abstract: With reference to FIG.

Abstract: A sleeve valve (13) slides axially along the cylinder (10) while simultaneously rotating about the axis of the cylinder (10). The sleeve valve (13) has sleeve ports (23). A piston (14) reciprocates within the sleeve valve (13) and within the cylinder (10) to define a combustion chamber. A sleeve valve driving mechanism (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31) drives the sleeve valve (13) to slide axially along and rotate in the cylinder (10) in timed relationship with reciprocation of the piston (14) in the cylinder (10). The sleeve valve (13) is driven between two extreme positions in each stroke and the sleeve driving mechanism (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31) is operable to vary in locations the two extreme positions.

Abstract: With reference to FIG. 1, the present invention relates to an internal combustion engine comprising: a combustion chamber (10); first (A) and second (B) inlet valves controlling flow of air into the combustion chamber, first (C) and second (D) exhaust valves; and first (16) and second (18) turbochargers. The first turbocharger (16) is connected to the first inlet valve (A) and the second turbocharger (18) is connected to the second inlet valve (B). The first turbocharger (16) is connected to the first exhaust valve (C) and receives only combusted gases expelled via the first exhaust valve (C). The second turbocharger (18) is connected to the second exhaust valve (D) and all combusted gases expelled via the second exhaust valve flow to the second turbocharger (18) without passing through the first turbo-charger (16).

Abstract: With reference to FIG. 1, the present invention relates to an internal combustion engine comprising: a combustion chamber (10); first (A) and second (B) inlet valves controlling flow of air into the combustion chamber, first (C) and second (D) exhaust valves; and first (16) and second (18) turbochargers. The first turbocharger (16) is connected to the first inlet valve (A) and the second turbocharger (18) is connected to the second inlet valve (B). The first turbocharger (16) is connected to the first exhaust valve (C) and receives only combusted gases expelled via the first exhaust valve (C). The second turbocharger (18) is connected to the second exhaust valve (D) and all combusted gases expelled via the second exhaust valve flow to the second turbocharger (18) without passing through the first turbo-charger (16).

Abstract: The present invention relates (with reference to FIG. 1) to an internal combustion engine in which a combustion chamber (12) can be connected to a reservoir (16) for storing compressed air. Gas flow control valve means (15) controls flow between the chamber (12) and reservoir (16) so that air pressurised in the chamber (12) can be relayed to charge the reservoir (16) and pressurised air can be delivered to the chamber (12) to drive piston (10). The chamber (12) is also used for combustion of fuel. The invention also relates to a valve mechanism for controlling the flow of pressurised air between the chamber (12) and reservoir (16), in which a balancing force is applied to the gas flow control valve (115) to cancel the force on the valve (115) arising from the pressure applied to the back face of the valve (115).