A steam reciprocating piston engine that uses a pressurized working fluid to drive first and second pistons in reciprocating power strokes is disclosed. A piston is configured for reciprocating motion within the cylinder and traverses between bottom dead center and top dead center positions. An uppermost stop is reached wherein the working fluid is allowed to escape the cylinder through one or more exhaust ports whereby the fluid travels through a closed loop circuit ultimately directing pressurized fluid back into the cylinder inlet. Momentum causes a spring connected mass to continue upward maintaining the piston above the exhaust port so as to allow escape of the working fluid. Return of the piston and mass is caused by opposite movement of a second piston whereby another stroke is initiated. Power output may be transferred to any suitable system.

An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides an intake device including: an annular flow path which is formed in a circular housing; an inlet part which is installed at one side of the housing and guides an inflow of a fluid into the flow path; a outlet part which is installed at the other side of the housing and guides a discharge of the fluid which flows into the inlet part and passes through the flow path; a piston which is disposed in the flow path, and rotates along the flow path so as to compress the fluid introduced through the inlet part; and an opening and closing unit which is installed in the flow path between the inlet part and the outlet part, includes a plurality of opening and closing members, and elastic members which are installed between the plurality of opening and closing members and the flow path so as to support the plurality of opening and closing members, respectively, and opens and closes the flow path by pressing the piston, in which when the pressing of the piston is released, the plurality of opening and closing members closes the flow path by pressing force of the fluid which presses outer circumferential surfaces of the plurality of opening and closing members in a direction in which the flow path is closed, and by elastic force of the elastic member.

An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides an intake device including: an annular flow path which is formed in a circular housing; an inlet part which is installed at one side of the housing and guides an inflow of a fluid into the flow path; a outlet part which is installed at the other side of the housing and guides a discharge of the fluid which flows into the inlet part and passes through the flow path; a piston which is disposed in the flow path, and rotates along the flow path so as to compress the fluid introduced through the inlet part; and an opening and closing unit which is installed in the flow path between the inlet part and the outlet part, includes a plurality of opening and closing members, and elastic members which are installed between the plurality of opening and closing members and the flow path so as to support the plurality of opening and closing members, respectively, and opens and closes the flow path by pressing the piston, in which when the pressing of the piston is released, the plurality of opening and closing members closes the flow path by pressing force of the fluid which presses outer circumferential surfaces of the plurality of opening and closing members in a direction in which the flow path is closed, and by elastic force of the elastic member.

A heat accumulator having a housing to receive a heat storage medium, a heat storage medium received in the housing, and a heat exchanger, in which a heat carrier fluid can be transported and which is arranged so that heat can be transferred from the heat storage medium to the heat carrier fluid. The heat accumulator comprises an electrical heating means which is configured to convert electrical energy into heat energy. The electrical heating means is arranged so that it heats the heat storage medium during operation, wherein the heat storage medium heated by the electrical heating means is a metal. In addition a corresponding method is disclosed.

A heat accumulator having a housing to receive a heat storage medium, a heat storage medium received in the housing, and a heat exchanger, in which a heat carrier fluid can be transported and which is arranged so that heat can be transferred from the heat storage medium to the heat carrier fluid. The heat accumulator comprises an electrical heating means which is configured to convert electrical energy into heat energy. The electrical heating means is arranged so that it heats the heat storage medium during operation, wherein the heat storage medium heated by the electrical heating means is a metal. In addition a corresponding method is disclosed.

Methods, systems, and devices are provided for thermal enhancement. Thermal enhancement may include absorbing heat from one or more devices. In some cases, this may improve the efficiency of the one or more devices. In general, a phase transition may be induced in a storage material. The storage material may be combined with a freeze point suppressant in order to reduce its melt point. The mixture may be used to boost the performance of device, such as an electrical generator, a heat engine, a refrigerator, and/or a freezer. The freeze point suppressant and storage material may be separated. By delaying the periods between each stage by prescribed amounts, the methods, systems, and devices may be able to shift the availability of electricity to the user and/or otherwise boost a device at different times in some cases.

Methods, systems, and devices are provided for thermal enhancement. Thermal enhancement may include absorbing heat from one or more devices. In some cases, this may improve the efficiency of the one or more devices. In general, a phase transition may be induced in a storage material. The storage material may be combined with a freeze point suppressant in order to reduce its melt point. The mixture may be used to boost the performance of device, such as an electrical generator, a heat engine, a refrigerator, and/or a freezer. The freeze point suppressant and storage material may be separated. By delaying the periods between each stage by prescribed amounts, the methods, systems, and devices may be able to shift the availability of electricity to the user and/or otherwise boost a device at different times in some cases.

Provided is a consumer to industrial scale renewable energy based quintuple-generation systems and energy storage facility. The present invention has both mobile and stationary embodiments. The present invention includes energy recovery, energy production, energy processing, pyrolysis, byproduct process utilization systems, separation process systems and handling and storage systems, as well as an open architecture for integration and development of additional processes, systems and applications. The system of the present invention primarily uses adaptive metrics, biometrics and thermal imaging sensory analysis (including additional input sensors for analysis) for monitoring and control with the utilization of an integrated artificial intelligence and automation control system, thus providing a balanced, environmentally-friendly ecosystem.

Provided is a consumer to industrial scale renewable energy based quintuple-generation systems and energy storage facility. The present invention has both mobile and stationary embodiments. The present invention includes energy recovery, energy production, energy processing, pyrolysis, byproduct process utilization systems, separation process systems and handling and storage systems, as well as an open architecture for integration and development of additional processes, systems and applications. The system of the present invention primarily uses adaptive metrics, biometrics and thermal imaging sensory analysis (including additional input sensors for analysis) for monitoring and control with the utilization of an integrated artificial intelligence and automation control system, thus providing a balanced, environmentally-friendly ecosystem.

In some implementations, there is provided an apparatus. The apparatus may include a first steam engine, an intermediate storage, and a second steam engine. The first steam engine may include a first inlet and a first exhaust, wherein the first inlet receives steam from a source of thermal energy. The intermediate storage may be coupled to the first exhaust, wherein the intermediate storage stores thermal energy provided by steam from the first exhaust. The second steam engine may include a second inlet coupled to the intermediate storage. Moreover, at least one of the first steam engine and the second steam engine may produce work. Furthermore, the first steam engine may be driven by the steam received from the source of thermal energy, and the second steam engine may be driven by steam from at least one of the intermediate storage and the first exhaust. Related apparatus and methods are also described.