Abstract: In some embodiments the disclosure is directed to a closed-loop piston engine system using a recirculating carbon dioxide (CO2) system with supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) as a working fluid. The closed-loop piston engine system may include a scCO2 injector; a superheating nozzle region; a first valve; a second valve; a piston moving in the cylinder and coupled with a crankshaft, the piston being driven toward a centerline of the crankshaft during a power stroke using a connecting rod and causing the crankshaft to rotate thereby causing one power stroke per piston per crankshaft rotation and thereby producing two power strokes for every single power stroke that a similar engine would produce if run as a hydrocarbon fuel powered internal combustion engine. The recirculating CO2 system recirculates the used carbon dioxide and there are no carbon dioxide emissions from the system.

Abstract: An energy harvesting system includes a heat engine and a component configured to be driven by operation of the heat engine. The heat engine includes a first member, a second member, a shape memory alloy material, and a tensioner. The second member is spaced from the first member. The shape memory alloy material operatively interconnects the first member and the second member. The shape memory alloy material is configured to selectively change crystallographic phase from martensite to austenite and thereby contract in response to exposure to a first temperature. The shape memory alloy material is also configured to selectively change crystallographic phase from austenite to martensite and thereby expand in response to exposure to a second temperature. The tensioner is configured to apply tension to the shape memory alloy material as the shape memory alloy material selectively expands and contracts such that the shape memory alloy material is taut.

Abstract: An arrangement in connection with a piston engine provided with a turbocompressor, which arrangement comprises a flow duct for conveying combustion air pressurized by a compressor to cylinders of the piston engine, an exhaust gas duct for conveying exhaust gas from the piston engine to a turbine, and means adapted in conjunction with the turbine for feeding a cleansing agent to the turbine. There are feeding means arranged in connection with the exhaust gas duct for introducing air and/or water into the exhaust gas duct for cooling the exhaust gas.

Abstract: A piston and a reciprocating expansion engine with a piston having a piston head, a piston neck, and a piston shaft are described. The piston head has at least one groove which runs in a circumferential direction suitable for receiving a piston ring, and the piston shaft has a pin boss and, at its outer circumference, a guide surface which is suitable for guiding the piston along a cylinder inner wall. An outer diameter of the piston neck is smaller than an outer diameter of the piston head and/or of the piston shaft, and the length of the piston neck approximately corresponds to the travel of the piston in the installed state.

Abstract: A method to operate and electronic controlled internal combustion engine, and particularly a heavy duty diesel engine, to effect vane cleaning of a variable geometry turbocharger.

Abstract: Downstream expansion cylinders are associated with a combustion cylinder such that an overall surface area and displacement volume of the expansion cylinder is sufficient to lower the temperature of fluids associated with the combined engine to such an extent that a radiator can be eliminated in an associated vehicle, or other system. In a separate feature, a catalytic material is placed on surfaces which will “see” the hot exhaust gases such that catalytic conversion of impurities in the gases can be achieved within the engine itself. In yet another feature, water is recovered from a system having both a water injection expansion cylinder, and a combustion cylinder, and the recovered water is re-used for the expansion. In yet another feature, gearing is provided between the expansion cylinder and a combustion cylinder such that the output of the combined engine is optimized, and the two cylinders do not drive the crankshafts in a one-to-one fashion.

Abstract: A method to operate and electronic controlled internal combustion engine, and particularly a heavy duty diesel engine, to effect vane cleaning of a variable geometry turbocharger.

Abstract: A steam-generating drive system is disclosed. The steam-generating drive system includes an internal combustion engine having an exhaust outlet chamber. A steam reservoir is provided in fluid communication with the exhaust outlet chamber for receiving exhaust gases from the exhaust outlet chamber. A water injector is provided in fluid communication with the steam reservoir for injecting water into the steam reservoir such that high-pressure steam is generated in the steam reservoir.

Abstract: An engine charge air-cooling system with water fumigation for an internal combustion engine includes a charge air cooler having a housing, a heat exchanger core, an air inlet and an air outlet. The charge air cooler inlet is connected to an outlet of a compressed air source, such as a turbocharger, through a cooler intake header. The charge air cooler outlet is connected through a cooler outlet header to cylinder intake ports of the engine. The cooler intake header is adapted to receive water in a passage below the cooler inlet. Hot, compressed charge air entering the charge air cooler through the intake header mixes with water vapor formed in the header, thereby humidifying the charge air that enters the cylinders from the charge air cooler. The high, energy absorbing capability of the water molecule reduces the peak combustion temperature, thereby reducing NOx production in the combustion reaction.

Abstract: An improved system for controlling emissions of VOC's by combustion of the VOC's in an internal combustion engine, comprising: a chiller through which the VOC's pass for condensing some of the VOC's into useable liquid products, the remaining VOC's being directed through piping to the engine as the primary fuel therefor; and a refrigeration unit connected to the engine and powered thereby, the refrigeration unit being connected by other piping to the chiller providing refrigerant thereto for the condensing of some of the VOC's passing therethrough.

Abstract: An inert gas production system which primarily employs the exhaust gas of an engine as an inert gas source and uses a catalytic purifier to remove oxygen from the engine exhaust to produce the inert gas. The engine is preferably an internal combustion engine which operates on methane. The catalytic purification of the exhaust gas to remove oxygen is preferably performed by a packed bed catalytic purifying system including two catalyst vessels operated in series. The inert gas production system using engine exhaust can operate at a lower cost than the known membrane purification systems which produce an inert gas from air. In addition, the engine can be connected to a generator to provide an electrical energy advantage and the entire system can produce an inert gas stream containing less than 1,000 ppm of oxygen.

Abstract: A method for wet cleaning of the nozzle rings of exhaust-gas turbocharger turbines is based on thermal shock of the contaminants, and includes the steps of injecting water in repeated, relatively small amounts, into the exhaust duct immediately upstream of the nozzle ring. A delay between injections allows the nozzle ring to reheat to operating temperature so that each water injection causes a thermal shock. An apparatus to perform the method includes water injection nozzles installed in the exhaust gas casing and a control system. The method and apparatus provide improved cleaning using less water than in known methods.

Abstract: Improved cleaning of the nozzle ring and the moving blades of the axial turbine of a turbocharger is to provided by a cleaning device. The cleaning device (20) includes only one nozzle (21, 44) having at least one injection opening (24) as well as a cleaning-agent feed line (23). The injection opening (24) is arranged at any point (38) of an imaginary circular area (34), which in turn is defined by a center (33) arranged at a distance A upstream of the inner casing wall (11) as well as by a diameter d.sub.k. The center (33) lies on an imaginary parallel area (34) formed at a distance A from the inner casing wall (11). The distance A corresponds to the average diameter of the nozzle ring (8) multiplied by a percentage P.sub.1, (5%.ltoreq.P.sub.1 .ltoreq.30%). The center (33) lies at an intersection point (36) of the parallel area (35) and die flow line (17) intersecting the latter at right angles. The diameter d.sub.

Abstract: A hybrid engine is disclosed which utilizes the heat from the exhausted combustion gases of an internal combustion engine to generate steam externally of the cylinders of the engine. The steam is used to power turbines which may be effectively connected to augment the power supplied by the internal combustion engine or to act as a power transfer medium. The device includes a modified exhaust manifold which incorporates one way valves and water injection ports to enable steam pressurization within the manifold. Steam spent in the turbines is condensed and returned to the system with exhaust gases being vented to atmosphere subsequent to the utilization of their previously wasted heat energy for power production.

Abstract: A fuel combustion process is provided for a multi-cylinder engine for reducing exhaust emissions of carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbons. The process includes the steps of introducing hydrocarbon fuel in a first engine cylinder, burning the hydrocarbon fuel and producing exhaust gases, introducing the exhaust gases in a second cylinder, introducing hydrogen in the second cylinder, and burning the hydrogen with the exhaust gases, thereby producing exhaust emissions having a lower carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbon content than that of the exhaust gases produced in the first cylinder.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining when to initiate the cleaning of the turbine blades of a turbocharger is disclosed. The performance of the compressor portion of the turbocharger is monitored and upon a degradation in performance being detected it is indicated that fouling of the turbine blades has occurred. In response to this indication a water injection system is energized for supplying atomized water under high pressure to the exhaust gas powering the turbocharger to effectively clean the turbine blades. Means are provided for decreasing the speed of the turbocharger during the cleaning cycle to allow for an effective cleaning operation.

Abstract: This invention relates to improving the internal combustion and internal use of fuel in reciprocating engines, and more particularly to reciprocating engines which are compounded in order to effect extension of the expansion event of the four-event work cycle of such engines and which are enabled especially thereby to receive and use, for the furtherance and prolongation of the combustion process, secondary air inducted by such engines or made available by external means, said air being directly applied to the engine's working medium after the original ignition of each fuel/air charge or any equivalent thereof, and during the power-producing period in which that working medium expands.

Abstract: This invention relates to improving the internal combustion and internal use of fuel in reciprocating engines, and more particularly to reciprocating engines which are compounded in order to effect extension of the expansion event of the four-event work cycle of such engines and which are enabled especially thereby to receive and use, for prolonging and substantially improving the combustion process, secondary air inducted and compressed by secondary cylinders of such engines, said air being subsequently applied directly to and into the engine's working medium after the original ignition of each fuel/air charge or any equivalent thereof, and during the power-producing period in which that working medium expands in two coacting cylinders.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine of the expansible chamber type and preferably a diesel engine is equipped with a turbo-compressor unit, comprising at least one compressor and at least one turbine, and at least one bypass pipe enabling direct and permanent passage for the air delivered through the compressor to the turbine inlet.The diesel engine is supercharged by the compressor driven by the turbine. Regulating means are provided to limit the rotary speed of the supercharging unit so that it operates at or above a minimum threshold value such that the engine, which has a compression ratio of less than 12, can be started and kept running at low power without difficulty.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine with exhaust gas turbocharger, according to which in the lower partial load range of the engine for purposes of increasing the temperature of the air charge exhaust gas from an exhaust gas conduit is through a connecting line admixed to the compressed air charge, and according to which in the full load range a portion of the compressed air charge is through a connecting line passed from an air charge pressure line into the exhaust gas conduit ahead of the exhaust gas turbine. Ahead of where the connecting line leads into the air charge pressure line, there is provided an air charge cooler which by means of a thermostatic control controls the charge air of the internal combustion engine to a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: To remove pollutants in the exhaust gases from a liquid fuel driven engine, a turbosupercharger, including a turbine and a compressor, is combined with the engine to provide both afterburning and catalytic oxidation. The exhaust gases are accumulated to provide combustion in advance of the turbine. Further, air is branched off from the compressor and mixed with the gases flowing through the turbine to afford combustion of the gases after they pass through the turbine. Catalytically active surfaces are located within the turbine for the reduction of nitric oxides.

Abstract: A supercharged engine is provided with a by-pass pipe through which all the air from the compressor which is not absorbed by the engine flows towards the turbine through an auxiliary combustion chamber. There is provided a system for supplying fuel to the combustion chamber, comprising means for regulating the flow rate of fuel supplied to the auxiliary chamber so as to prevent the supercharging pressure falling below a set value; in which power unit the regulating means comprise sensing means sensitive to the quantity of fuel injected per cycle into the engine so that each value of the said quantity of fuel is made to correspond to a particular set value of supercharging pressure.

Abstract: A supercharged internal combustion engine having an exhaust gas turbocharger which includes an exhaust gas turbine and a charging blower driven by the exhaust gas turbine. A secondary air pump is associated with the internal combustion engine for afterburning of the exhaust gases with a regulating valve, controlled by the combustion air pressure, being effective to supply secondary air from the secondary air pump into either the exhaust gas line upstream of the exhaust gas turbine or discharging of the secondary air into the atmosphere in dependence upon the combustion air pressure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multiple-cycle internal combustion engine having as a unit of two four-cycle cylinders operating 180.degree. apart and one two-cycle cylinder firing 90.degree. after the four-cycle cylinders fire. The four-cycle exhaust is admitted to the intake port of the two-cycle cylinder and the two-cycle cylinder ports are opened and closed in correlation with the exhaust cycle of the four-cycle cylinders so that four-cycle exhaust is admitted to the two-cycle cylinder and passes out through the outlet port thereof sweeping two-cycle exhaust out along with it. Thus, advantages are taken of the uncombusted products in the four-cycle exhaust to drive the two-cycle cylinders. At the same time, advantage is taken of the higher efficiency of four-cycle cylinders at low speeds and the higher efficiency of two-cycle cyclinders at high speeds to obtain an over all improvement in the efficiency of the engine.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine of the spark or diesel ignition type and having an anti-pollution arrangement for the reduction of the products of incomplete combustion and crankcase evaporation and said arrangement including a turbine adapted to receive exhaust gases and being connected to the engine through an overriding clutch to drive the turbine yet allowing for overriding faster rotation of the turbine through secondary ignition of the exhaust or other unburned gases. The turbine includes a fuel supply to aid in ignition of exhaust gases and may include a fuel supply with an aromatic indicator fluid which loses its aroma upon oxidation at a predetermined temperature thereby indicating if the turbine temperature is high enough to completely eliminate unburned exhaust and other gases without recycling said gases through the engine.

Abstract: A power plant comprises an internal combustion engine, (Diesel engine), a compressor for supercharging the engine and a turbine for driving the compressor. The turbine is fed in parallel by the exhaust conduit of the engine and by a passage communicating with the compressor outlet. The passage is divided into two parallel arms. The first arm has a throttle. The second arm is connected to the primary zone of an auxiliary combustion chamber via orifices of a cross-section such that the pressure drop produced between the upstream and downstream ends of the orifices of the second arm is the same as the pressure drop produced between the upstream and downstream ends of the throttle of the first arm. The combustion chamber is fed by a fuel supply system entering the primary zone in the region of the turbulence produced in this zone by the arrival of air through the orifices, so that a complete and stable combustion is achieved in the auxiliary combustion chamber.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with an improvement in a turbocharger system for an internal combustion engine having an exhaust manifold and an intake manifold adjacent to the engine. The turbocharger system includes a turbine communicating with the exhaust manifold and driven by gases therefrom. The turbine drives a compressor and has an output which communicates with the intake manifold. A fuel burner chamber forms a part of the turbocharger system, said fuel burner chamber having an input for receiving compressed air, an output through which expanded gases pass and a spark igniter. The turbocharger system further includes means communicating the output of the compressor to the input of the fuel burner chamber, means communicating the output of the fuel burner chamber into and through the exhaust manifold, means for supplying a variable quantity of fuel from a fuel reservoir to said burner chamber and means responsive to intake manifold pressure to vary the quantity of fuel delivered to the burner.

Abstract: A power plant comprises a compression ignition internal combustion engine supercharged by a turbo-compressor set the turbine of which is supplied in parallel through the exhaust duct of the engine and through a by-pass passage starting from the compressor and provided with an auxiliary combustion chamber. The power plant comprises also a recycling duct one end of which is located between the downstream end of the auxiliary combustion chamber and the turbine inlet and the other end of which is disposed in the compressor intake duct. The recycling duct is closed once the compressor can, without recycling, produce upstream of the engine conditions for spontaneous ignition.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine of the expansible chamber type and preferably a diesel engine is equipped with a turbo-compressor unit, comprising at least one compressor and at least one turbine, and at least one bypass pipe enabling direct and permanent passage for the air delivered through the compressor to the turbine inlet.The diesel engine is supercharged by the compressor driven by the turbine. Regulating means are provided to limit the rotary speed of the supercharging unit so that it operates at or above a minimum threshold value such that the engine, which has a compression ratio of less than 12, can be started and kept running at low power without difficulty.

Abstract: Diesel engines, equipped with a turbocompressor unit with a combustion chamber upstream of the turbine, comprising a by-pass duct enabling direct and permanent passage between the outlet of the compressor of the turbocompressor unit and said combustion chamber, comprise in addition, for the starting of the turbocompressor unit, a starting device comprising pressure difference generating means. These means are positioned in the by-pass duct in the midst of the air-flow between the compressor and the turbine and arranged to create a flow in the direction of the turbine of the turbocompressor unit. The pressure difference generating means may be constituted by a blower driven by an electric motor, or by an injector supplied with air under pressure and generating a flow by the effect of induction.