A method includes forming a combustible mixture by mixing generally homogeneously a first fuel and air and introducing this mixture into a cylinder, compressing the combustible mixture with a piston in a compression stroke, introducing a second fuel into a prechamber at an introduction-time before start of combustion thus creating a prechamber charge, in which the second fuel being of the same or different chemical composition and/or concentration with respect to the first fuel, and spark igniting the prechamber charge. Emission of the cylinder and/or mechanical stress of the cylinder caused by the combustion are monitored. If emissions and/or mechanical stress are above respective predetermined thresholds, individually for the at least one cylinder, the chemical composition and/or the amount of second fuel introduced into the prechamber, and/or temperature of the cylinder charge and/or spark timing, are changed.

A split-cycle engine includes: a first cylinder housing a first piston, wherein the first piston performs an intake stroke and a compression stroke, but does not perform an exhaust stroke; a second cylinder housing a second piston, wherein the second piston performs an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke, but does not perform an intake stroke; and a valve chamber housing a valve, the valve comprising an internal chamber that selectively fluidly couples to the first and second cylinders, wherein the valve and internal chamber move within the valve chamber and relative to the first and second cylinders.

A split-cycle engine includes: a first cylinder housing a first piston, wherein the first piston performs an intake stroke and a compression stroke, but does not perform an exhaust stroke; a second cylinder housing a second piston, wherein the second piston performs an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke, but does not perform an intake stroke; and a valve chamber housing a valve, the valve comprising an internal chamber that selectively fluidly couples to the first and second cylinders, wherein the valve and internal chamber move within the valve chamber and relative to the first and second cylinders.

A split-cycle engine includes: a first cylinder housing a first piston, wherein the first piston performs an intake stroke and a compression stroke, but does not perform an exhaust stroke; a second cylinder housing a second piston, wherein the second piston performs an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke, but does not perform an intake stroke; and a valve chamber housing a valve, the valve comprising an internal chamber that selectively fluidly couples to the first and second cylinders, wherein the valve and internal chamber move within the valve chamber and relative to the first and second cylinders.

A split-cycle engine includes: a first cylinder housing a first piston, wherein the first piston performs an intake stroke and a compression stroke, but does not perform an exhaust stroke; a second cylinder housing a second piston, wherein the second piston performs an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke, but does not perform an intake stroke; and a valve chamber housing a valve, the valve comprising an internal chamber that selectively fluidly couples to the first and second cylinders, wherein the valve and internal chamber move within the valve chamber and relative to the first and second cylinders.

A system is provided comprising an engine having a first cylinder bank and a second cylinder bank disposed in a VEE configuration, a first compressor configured to compress fluid to a first pressure, a first cooler coupled to the first compressor, the first cooler receiving the compressed fluid from the first compressor and cooling the compressed fluid, a second compressor coupled to the first cooler, the second compressor being configured to receive cooled, compressed fluid from the first cooler and compress the cooled, compressed fluid to a second pressure that is higher than the first pressure, and a second cooler coupled to the second compressor, the second cooler receiving the compressed fluid from the second compressor and cooling the compressed fluid for introduction into the pair of cylinder banks. The first compressor, the first cooler, the second compressor and the second cooler are disposed within the VEE.

A system is provided comprising an engine having a first cylinder bank and a second cylinder bank disposed in a VEE configuration, a first compressor configured to compress fluid to a first pressure, a first cooler coupled to the first compressor, the first cooler receiving the compressed fluid from the first compressor and cooling the compressed fluid, a second compressor coupled to the first cooler, the second compressor being configured to receive cooled, compressed fluid from the first cooler and compress the cooled, compressed fluid to a second pressure that is higher than the first pressure, and a second cooler coupled to the second compressor, the second cooler receiving the compressed fluid from the second compressor and cooling the compressed fluid for introduction into the pair of cylinder banks. The first compressor, the first cooler, the second compressor and the second cooler are disposed within the VEE.

Embodiments of the present disclosure describe a zeolite-like metal-organic framework composition comprising a metal-organic framework composition with ana topology characterized by the formula [M.sup.III(4, 5-imidazole dicarboxylic acid).sub.2X(solvent).sub.a].sub.n wherein M.sup.III comprises a trivalent cation of a rare earth element, X comprises an alkali metal element or alkaline earth metal element, and solvent comprises a guest molecule occupying pores. Embodiments of the present disclosure describe a method of separating paraffins comprising contacting a zeolite-like metal-organic framework with ana topology with a flow of paraffins, and separating the paraffins by size.

Where a relationship between maximum heat release rate timing and a first combustion period length (that is, a reference relationship) in the case where an engine rotation speed of a spark-ignition internal combustion engine is a selected speed and a valve opening characteristic of an intake valve is a reference characteristic is expressed by the function are f=f(dQpeak) where dQpeak denotes the maximum heat release rate timing and aref denotes the first combustion period length, when the valve opening characteristic of the intake valve changes to a specific characteristic from this state, a first combustion period length for selected maximum heat release rate timing is estimated on the basis of the mathematical expression a=f(2)+a1 where 2 denotes the selected maximum heat release rate timing and a denotes the first combustion period length.

Where a relationship between maximum heat release rate timing and a first combustion period length (that is, a reference relationship) in the case where an engine rotation speed of a spark-ignition internal combustion engine is a selected speed and a valve opening characteristic of an intake valve is a reference characteristic is expressed by the function are f=f(dQpeak) where dQpeak denotes the maximum heat release rate timing and aref denotes the first combustion period length, when the valve opening characteristic of the intake valve changes to a specific characteristic from this state, a first combustion period length for selected maximum heat release rate timing is estimated on the basis of the mathematical expression a=f(2)+a1 where 2 denotes the selected maximum heat release rate timing and a denotes the first combustion period length.