A scroll expander, comprising: a housing; and an expansion mechanism provided in the housing. A back pressure chamber in fluid communication with a medium pressure chamber is provided in the expansion mechanism and is provided with at least one passage in fluid communication from the back pressure chamber to a low pressure region; the passage is configured such that: the passage is opened when the pressure in the back pressure chamber is lower than the pressure of the low pressure region, and is closed when the pressure in the back pressure chamber is higher than or equal to the pressure of the low pressure region. The scroll expander can avoid the problem of being unable to be started and to operate normally; and the scroll expander is simple in structure, easy to process and manufacture, and high in cost effectiveness.

A six-stroke rotary-vane internal combustion engine includes a stator having working chambers for intake and compression of air-fuel mixture alternating with working chambers for expansion and removing of combustion products, and a cylindrical rotor including longitudinal grooves housing blades. Side walls of all the working chambers are formed by rotating parts of the rotor, the combustion chambers are formed as hemispherical recesses on a cylindrical surface of the rotor, the working chambers of the stator are formed as cylindrical borings with axes parallel to the stator axis and evenly spaced along an inner surface of the stator, each blade consists of separate plates freely displaceable relative to each other, each plate of the blade being made of two parts movable apart in axial direction by a spring, the number of blades is a multiple of the number of the chambers for intake of air-fuel mixture.

A six-stroke rotary-vane internal combustion engine includes a stator having working chambers for intake and compression of air-fuel mixture alternating with working chambers for expansion and removing of combustion products, and a cylindrical rotor including longitudinal grooves housing blades. Side walls of all the working chambers are formed by rotating parts of the rotor, the combustion chambers are formed as hemispherical recesses on a cylindrical surface of the rotor, the working chambers of the stator are formed as cylindrical borings with axes parallel to the stator axis and evenly spaced along an inner surface of the stator, each blade consists of separate plates freely displaceable relative to each other, each plate of the blade being made of two parts movable apart in axial direction by a spring, the number of blades is a multiple of the number of the chambers for intake of air-fuel mixture.

A pneumatic control device includes a base seat unit, a cylinder unit and a time-delay unit. The cylinder unit is mounted the base seat unit, and is able to drive rotational movement. The time-delay unit is mounted to the base seat unit, and includes sequentially interconnected delay switch, flow-limiting valve, pressure accumulator and a control valve. The delay switch is operable to move between an action position whereat the cylinder unit drives the rotational movement, and a non-action position. When the delay switch is moved to the non-action position, the cylinder unit keeps driving the rotational movement for a period of time and then stops.

A rotary engine having an insert in a peripheral wall of the stator body, the insert being made of a material having a greater heat resistance than that of the peripheral wall, having a subchamber defined therein and having an inner surface, the subchamber communicating with the cavity through at least one opening defined in the inner surface and having a shape forming a reduced cross-section adjacent the opening, a pilot fuel injector having a tip received in the subchamber, an ignition element having a tip received in the subchamber, and a main fuel injector extending through the stator body and having a tip communicating with the cavity at a location spaced apart from the insert. The subchamber has a volume corresponding to from 5% to 25% of a sum of the minimum volume and the volume of the subchamber. A method of injecting heavy fuel into a Wankel engine is also discussed.

A method for starting a turbocompounded engine system having an internal combustion engine and a turbomachinery driving a load, the method comprising: mechanically disengaging the internal combustion engine from at least one of the load and/or the turbomachinery before starting the internal combustion engine. The engine is allowed to warm up and then the engine is re-engaged with the at least one of the load and the turbomachinery.

A compound engine system includes a rotary engine with rotating chambers, a compressor section in successive communication with the rotating chambers, and a turbine section in successive communication with the rotating chambers. The turbine section has an output shaft. The output shaft and the engine shaft are drivingly engaged to each other and wherein the turbine section has a power output corresponding to from 20% to 35% of a total power output of the compound engine system. A method of compounding power in a compound engine system is also discussed.

A non-Wankel rotary engine having an insert in the peripheral wall of the outer body, the insert being made of a material having a greater heat resistance than that of the peripheral wall, having a subchamber defined therein and having an inner surface bordering the cavity, the subchamber communicating with the cavity through at least one opening defined in the inner surface and having a shape forming a reduced cross-section adjacent the opening, a pilot fuel injector having a tip received in the subchamber, an ignition element having a tip received in the subchamber, and a main fuel injector extending through the housing and having a tip communicating with the cavity at a location spaced apart from the insert.

A rotary engine including a rotor sealingly received within an internal cavity of an outer body to define a plurality of combustion chambers having a variable volume, a pilot subchamber located in a wall of the outer body, the pilot subchamber in fluid communication with the internal cavity via at least two spaced apart transfer holes defining a flow restriction between the pilot subchamber and the internal cavity, a pilot fuel injector in fluid communication with the pilot subchamber, an ignition element configured for igniting fuel in the pilot subchamber, and a main fuel injector extending through the stator body and communicating with the cavity at a location spaced apart from the pilot subchamber. A method of combusting fuel in a rotary engine is also discussed.

A compound engine system includes a rotary engine with rotating chambers, a compressor section in successive communication with the rotating chambers, and a turbine section in successive communication with the rotating chambers. The turbine section has an output shaft. The output shaft and the engine shaft are drivingly engaged to each other and wherein the turbine section has a power output corresponding to from 20% to 35% of a total power output of the compound engine system. A method of compounding power in a compound engine system is also discussed.