An apparatus (10) for compressing and expanding a gas includes a chamber (22), a positive displacement device (24) moveable relative thereto, first and second valves (26, 28) activatable to control flow of gas into and out of the chamber (22), and a controller (80) for controlling activation of the valves (26, 28) that selectively switches operation between a compression and an expansion mode with selective switching between modes being achieved by selectively changing the activation timing of at least one of the valves during the first mode. An energy storage system including the device may be operatively coupled via a rotary device for power transmission to an input/output device, whereby the direction and speed of rotation are preserved during switching, and the input/output device may be synchronized to the grid.

An apparatus (10) for compressing and expanding a gas includes a chamber (22), a positive displacement device (24) moveable relative thereto, first and second valves (26, 28) activatable to control flow of gas into and out of the chamber (22), and a controller (80) for controlling activation of the valves (26, 28) that selectively switches operation between a compression and an expansion mode with selective switching between modes being achieved by selectively changing the activation timing of at least one of the valves during the first mode. An energy storage system including the device may be operatively coupled via a rotary device for power transmission to an input/output device, whereby the direction and speed of rotation are preserved during switching, and the input/output device may be synchronized to the grid.

A novel heat exchange device to provide sufficient amounts of heat within a manifold including a working fluid within heating coils to generate electricity through an external combustion steam engine and electrical generator is provided. Such a novel heat exchanger includes coils that surround a central heating compartment thereby exposing such coils to gradually increasing temperatures such that the working fluid is first vaporized and then is ultimately superheated to a dry steam upon the point of egress of the heat exchanger leading to the engine portion. In this manner, greater efficiency in heating of the working fluid is accomplished with all of the fluid converted to a gas under pressure to effectuate the necessary engine, etc., movement for energy production.

A novel heat exchange device to provide sufficient amounts of heat within a manifold including a working fluid within heating coils to generate electricity through an external combustion steam engine and electrical generator is provided. Such a novel heat exchanger includes coils that surround a central heating compartment thereby exposing such coils to gradually increasing temperatures such that the working fluid is first vaporized and then is ultimately superheated to a dry steam upon the point of egress of the heat exchanger leading to the engine portion. In this manner, greater efficiency in heating of the working fluid is accomplished with all of the fluid converted to a gas under pressure to effectuate the necessary engine, etc., movement for energy production.

The invention relates to a cartridge (1) for the displacement of a thermodynamic fluid for a heat engine, the cartridge being characterised in that it comprises: a first profile section (2) comprising first circulation means (3) for circulating a heat transfer fluid; a second profile section (8) comprising second circulating means (9) for circulating a heat-transfer fluid; a third profile section (15) being able and intended to be connected to at least one supply circuit of at least one working fluid (J, H), said third profile section (15) being placed inside the first profile section (2) and the second profile section (8); a chamber (24) for containing a thermodynamic fluid; a displacer (25) placed within said chamber (24) and mounted so as to be capable of sliding relative to the outer wall (17) of said third profile section (15); a piston (26) placed inside said third profile section (15) and mounted so as to be capable of sliding relative to the inner wall (16) of said third profile section (15), the piston (26) being able and intended to be moved by said at least one working fluid (J, H), the displacer (25) and the piston (26) being coupled to each other.