An internal combustion engine including a fuel reformation cylinder for reforming a fuel and an output cylinder for yielding an engine power by combusting a fuel or a reformed fuel, wherein at least a part of the surfaces constituting a volume-variable reaction chamber of the fuel reformation cylinder has a highly heat-insulative material.

An internal combustion engine including a fuel reformation cylinder for reforming a fuel and an output cylinder for yielding an engine power by combusting a fuel or a reformed fuel, wherein at least a part of the surfaces constituting a volume-variable reaction chamber of the fuel reformation cylinder has a highly heat-insulative material.

A spark-ignited (SI) internal combustion (IC) engine designed to operate on high octane fuels, such as gasoline, is reconfigured to operate on low octane fuels including logistically preferred distillate fuels, such as diesel or JP-8. Design modifications involve coupling a fuel reformer module to the internal combustion engine. Auxiliary components include a system control module, a heat exchange module, a bypass valve to facilitate start-up, and/or a throttle body to control a reformate-oxidizer mixture fed to the engine. Small portable generators having 0.3-3.0 kWe power output are disclosed based upon the modified SI-IC engine design.

A spark-ignited (SI) internal combustion (IC) engine designed to operate on high octane fuels, such as gasoline, is reconfigured to operate on low octane fuels including logistically preferred distillate fuels, such as diesel or JP-8. Design modifications involve coupling a fuel reformer module to the internal combustion engine. Auxiliary components include a system control module, a heat exchange module, a bypass valve to facilitate start-up, and/or a throttle body to control a reformate-oxidizer mixture fed to the engine. Small portable generators having 0.3-3.0 kWe power output are disclosed based upon the modified SI-IC engine design.

The method of providing an internal combustion engine with one or more variable sized combustion chambers providing pistons in the cylinders forming combustion chambers, providing the pistons with piston connecting rods which are pivotably connected to the pistons on one end and to floating pins on the second end, providing crankshaft connecting rods pivotably connected to rod journals on the crankshaft and to the floating pins on a second end, and moving the position of the crankshaft relative to the cylinders such that when the position of the crankshaft relative to the cylinders is changed, the operating characteristics of the engine are changed.

The method of providing an internal combustion engine with one or more variable sized combustion chambers providing pistons in the cylinders forming combustion chambers, providing the pistons with piston connecting rods which are pivotably connected to the pistons on one end and to floating pins on the second end, providing crankshaft connecting rods pivotably connected to rod journals on the crankshaft and to the floating pins on a second end, and moving the position of the crankshaft relative to the cylinders such that when the position of the crankshaft relative to the cylinders is changed, the operating characteristics of the engine are changed.

The method of providing an internal combustion engine with one or more variable sized combustion chambers providing pistons in the cylinders forming combustion chambers, providing the pistons with piston connecting rods which are pivotably connected to the pistons on one end and to floating pins on the second end, providing crankshaft connecting rods pivotably connected to rod journals on the crankshaft and to the floating pins on a second end, and moving the position of the crankshaft relative to the cylinders such that when the position of the crankshaft relative to the cylinders is changed, the operating characteristics of the engine are changed.

The method of providing an internal combustion engine with one or more variable sized combustion chambers providing pistons in the cylinders forming combustion chambers, providing the pistons with piston connecting rods which are pivotably connected to the pistons on one end and to floating pins on the second end, providing crankshaft connecting rods pivotably connected to rod journals on the crankshaft and to the floating pins on a second end, and moving the position of the crankshaft relative to the cylinders such that when the position of the crankshaft relative to the cylinders is changed, the operating characteristics of the engine are changed.

A portable flexible fuel generator, having an engine, includes: a cylinder and a spark plug in the cylinder, a primary fuel tank fluidly connected to the cylinder, an air intake path fluidly connecting atmosphere to the cylinder, a start module including a starting fuel tank holder and a starting fuel line, where the starting fuel line is fluidly connected to the air intake path, a coolant path which provide a flow path for coolant to cool the cylinder, and a thermal controller along the coolant path. Furthermore, the engine has full cylinder cooling.

A portable flexible fuel generator, having an engine, includes: a cylinder and a spark plug in the cylinder, a primary fuel tank fluidly connected to the cylinder, an air intake path fluidly connecting atmosphere to the cylinder, a start module including a starting fuel tank holder and a starting fuel line, where the starting fuel line is fluidly connected to the air intake path, a coolant path which provide a flow path for coolant to cool the cylinder, and a thermal controller along the coolant path. Furthermore, the engine has full cylinder cooling.