425results about "Reciprocating combination engines" patented technology

A low or no pollution engine is provided for delivering power for vehicles or other power applications. The engine has an air inlet which collects air from a surrounding environment. At least a portion of the nitrogen in the air is removed. The remaining gas is primarily oxygen, which is then routed to a gas generator. The gas generator has inputs for the oxygen and a hydrocarbon fuel. The fuel and oxygen are combusted within the gas generator, forming water and carbon dioxide. The combustion products are then expanded through a power generating device, such as a turbine or piston expander to deliver output power for operation of a vehicle or other power uses. The combustion products are then passed through a condenser where the steam is condensed and the carbon dioxide is collected or discharged. A portion of the water is routed back to the gas generator. The carbon dioxide is compressed and delivered to a terrestrial formation from which return of the CO2 into the atmosphere is inhibited.

An engine power extraction control system controls the main propulsion engines and the electrical machines that are coupled thereto to supply an appropriate amount of aircraft thrust and electrical energy to the aircraft. The engines and electrical machines are also controlled so that the propulsion thrust that is generated is split between the various turbines in the main propulsion engines to maintain an adequate surge margin and to minimize residual thrust generation.

The present invention includes an integrated fuel processor subsystem incorporating a thermal combustor, a catalytic combustor, a quasi-autothermal reactor (QATR) and a air-fuel-steam (AFS) mixer to provide a range of operating modes exhibiting performance between that of a pure steam reformer and a pure autothermal reformer to increase the flexibility of the fuel processor to handle transient system demands such as cold starts, suppress emissions and carbon formation and improve efficiency.

A power generation system and method includes a first gas turbine system comprising a first combustion chamber configured to combust a first fuel stream of primarily hydrogen that is substantially free of carbon-based fuels. The first gas turbine system also includes a first compressor configured to supply a first portion of compressed oxidant to the first combustion chamber and a first turbine configured to receive a first discharge from the first combustion chamber and generate a first exhaust and electrical energy. The power generation system further includes a second gas turbine system comprising a second combustion chamber configured to combust a second fuel stream to generate a second discharge. The first compressor of the first gas turbine system is configured to supply a second portion of compressed oxidant to the second combustion chamber. The second turbine system also includes a second turbine configured to receive the second discharge from the second combustion chamber to generate a second exhaust and electrical energy and a second compressor configured to receive the second discharge comprising carbon dioxide. The second compressor is also configured to discharge a recycle stream to the second combustion chamber and a split stream to a separator system adapted to recover carbon dioxide.

Methods, systems, and apparatus for generating energy from a process contained series of explosion cycles is provided. The Explo-Dynamics™ energy generating system includes several embodiments for stimulating the heat and pressure release episodes of the process configurations and translating the released forces into torque, thrust, motive force, and/or super-heat impulses. The methods and systems of the present invention include a comprehensive arrangement of process configurations and components as well as a means of operation.

A hybrid clean-energy power-supply framework integrates a fuel cell, solar cell, and wind energy, applies a max power tracking rule, raises the output power of a solar cell and wind energy to supply a power load and transfer the surplus electrical energy to a water-electrolyzing apparatus for producing hydrogen and oxygen, and provides a fuel for a fuel cell power generating system. Furthermore, the present invention utilizes features of each clean-energy power generating system, depends on the powerful calculation capacity of a central processing unit to monitor and dispatch each power generation and supply system, and thus ensures the reliability of supply power and reduces the power generation cost. Such a framework can selectively grid-connect with the utility power or run as a stand-alone power supply system and has a mechanism for preventing the island effect.

A method and system for generating power from low- and mid-temperature heat sources using a zeotropic mixture as a working fluid. The zeotropic mixture working fluid is compressed to pressures above critical and heated to a supercritical state. The zeotropic mixture working fluid is then expanded to extract power. The zeotropic mixture working fluid is then condensed, subcooled, and collected for recirculation and recompression.

A hydrogen-powered hybrid powertrain system includes a hydrogen-fuelled internal combustion engine operating at a lean air/fuel mixture, and a supercharger for boosting a primary drive torque produced by the engine primarily over a high operating speed range. An electric motor/generator generates a secondary drive torque for the vehicle, such that the secondary drive torque complements the boosted primary drive torque over at least a low operating speed range of the powertrain. A disconnect clutch disposed between the engine and the motor/generator engages and disengages the engine from the motor/generator, and serves to transfer the boosted primary driver torque through the motor/generator and to a power transmission system. The input at the power transmission is thus a combination of the boosted primary drive torque and the secondary drive torque having an enhanced torque characteristic over at least the low operating speed range.

An internal combustion engine combusts a first fuel or a second fuel. A method for controlling the engine comprises supplying first fuel to at least one combustion chambers of the internal combustion engine, stopping the supply of the first fuel to the combustion chamber in response to an engine operating condition, and fueling with the second fuel to the at least one combustion chamber after a predetermined period, so as to maintain an engine speed within a predetermined range.

A method and device to optimize the cumulative beneficial effect of harvesting all available forms of lost energy, including energy that is lost while a vehicle is in motion (e.g., kinetic, inertia, friction, thermodynamic, and aerodynamic losses). The cumulative energy that is recovered is converted to electrical energy which powers the on-board electrolyzer to produce more hydrogen and oxygen while the system is in operation and stationary. Stationary, passive means of energy, solar, wind, hydro, etc. will also be available to power the electrolyzer. The system also contemplates utilizing passive means of energy to power a non-mobile system which incorporates an internal or external combustion engine in place of a fuel cell.

Hybrid aircraft propulsion systems are disclosed comprising an electrically driven ducted fan, a peripheral duct or enclosure, a combustion-produced source of radiant energy, radiant energy receivers or cold mirrors, and thermophotovoltaic or thermoelectric cell energy converters. An electric motor drives a partially or completely duct enclosed fan. Downstream and within the duct enclosure, radiant energy emitters irradiated receiver fins and thermophotovoltaic cells or thermoelectric cells. The receiver fins heat and expand the fan air, and the thermophotovoltaic cells or thermoelectric cells convert the radiant energy into electrical energy which is available to charge batteries and energize the fan motor. Thrust is provided via the acceleration of air by the fan and by the acceleration of air due to heat driven expansion.

A hybrid vehicle having an internal combustion engine, a generator connected with an output shaft extending from the internal combustion engine, an electric motor axially aligned with the output shaft, an output gear assembly connected to an output shaft driven by the rotor of the electric motor and positioned between the generator and the electric motor, a clutch adapted to connect and disconnect the generator to/from the output gear assembly, a differential gear unit, and a counter shaft oriented in parallel the output shaft driven by the rotor.

A control system for a rail vehicle system including a lead powered unit and a remote powered unit is provided. The system includes a user interface, a master isolation module and a slave controller. The user interface is disposed in the lead powered unit and is configured to receive an isolation command to turn on or off the remote powered unit. The master isolation module is configured to receive the isolation command from the user interface and to communicate an instruction based on the isolation command. The slave controller is configured to receive the instruction from the master isolation module. The slave controller causes the remote powered unit to supply tractive force to propel the rail vehicle system when the instruction directs the slave controller to turn on the remote powered unit. The slave controller causes the remote powered unit to withhold the tractive force when the instruction directs the slave controller to turn off the remote powered unit.

An auxiliary power system for a motor vehicle comprising a first engine having an accessory belt drive system comprising a belt and at least one driven pulley, the belt drivable by a driver pulley, the accessory belt drive system further comprising a motive member for driving the accessory belt drive system, the motive member comprises a motor engaged with the accessory belt drive system, a second engine operable to drive an electric power source, the electric power source electrically connected to the motive member, an alternate power source other than the electric power source connected to the motive member, a switch for selecting between the electric power source and the alternate power source, and the motive member, drivable by the electric power source or the alternate power source in order to drive the accessory belt drive system when the first engine is not operating.

A regenerative fuel cell is combined with a combustion engine such as a Pulse Detonation Engine (PDE) to create a closed-loop power generation system. Stored hydrogen and oxygen are used by the regenerative fuel cell, and by the combustion engine, in which the reaction of the hydrogen and oxygen produces water in the gas phase (steam). The steam is used to generate work from a turbine shaft, which is used to drive a propulsion system for the marine vessel. After the steam passes through the turbine, the steam is cooled back to liquid water by a condenser, and stored with the water produced by the regenerative fuel cell. The stored water can be converted back into hydrogen and oxygen by using electrical power external to the closed-loop system. After regeneration of the water into hydrogen and oxygen, the closed-loop power system would be ready for operation again.