The fluid-cushion sealing device (100) for a piston (101) moving in a cylinder (102) and defining with the latter a chamber to be sealed (104) includes: a continuous perforated ring (105) through the radial thickness of which passes a calibrated opening (111) and which is sealingly accommodated in a ring groove (109) provided in the piston (101) so as to define, with the groove (109), a pressure distribution chamber (119) connected to a pressurized fluid source (112), while an axially blind counter-pressure recess (115) is provided recessed on an external cylindrical ring surface (107) which faces the cylinder (102) and which the continuous perforated ring (105) includes, the calibrated opening (111) leading into the recess (115).

The fluid-cushion sealing device (100) for a piston (101) moving in a cylinder (102) and defining with the latter a chamber to be sealed (104) includes: a continuous perforated ring (105) through the radial thickness of which passes a calibrated opening (111) and which is sealingly accommodated in a ring groove (109) provided in the piston (101) so as to define, with said groove (109), a pressure distribution chamber (119) connected to a pressurized fluid source (112), while an axially blind counter-pressure recess (115) is provided recessed on an external cylindrical ring surface (107) which faces the cylinder (102) and which the continuous perforated ring (105) comprises, the calibrated opening (111) leading into said recess (115).

Reciprocating heat engine with hot cylinder head and cold cylinder includes a cooled cylinder casing which receives a cold cylinder covered with a lubricant film and in which a piston connected to power transmission moves in translation to form a variable-volume hot chamber with a hot cylinder head which is held applied but free to expand on the cylinder casing by cylinder head applying unit, while a hot crown is interposed between the chamber and the piston and is held applied but free to expand on the piston by crown applying unit, the piston including a cooled piston sealing ring which has a piston sealing unit.

Disclosed is an energy collector system applicable to internal combustion engines. It may include: a) a collector of thermal energy from the exhaust gases; b) a thermal tank covered by helical tubes to gain heat by the exhaust gases; c) a heat exchanger; and d) an outer element capable of converting thermal energy into mechanical energy, such as a closed Brayton cycle turbine, a Stirling engine, a Rankine turbine or an open loop air motor for converting mechanical energy (coupling the difference in rpm) into electrical energy with an electrical generator. The thermal energy collector may be composed of a heat exchanger that collects energy from the exhaust gases. The electrical energy generated may be used for driving a hybrid vehicle. The thermal tank is capable of storing energy as heat, as well.

A system is described which includes a Brayton cycle engine having a compressor, a turbine, a hollow rotating shaft that extends between a first end and a second end, a hollow tubing that interconnects the first end and the second end, and a heat source; a thermoacoustic Stirling cycle engine disposed within the hollow rotating shaft between the first and second ends thereof, the Stirling cycle engine including a cold side heat exchanger disposed adjacent to the compressor, a hot side heat exchanger disposed adjacent to the turbine, and a regenerator disposed between the cold and hot side heat exchangers; a first power generator disposed within the hollow tubing and located adjacent to the second end of the hollow rotating shaft; and, a second power generator disposed around the hollow rotating shaft between the first and second ends. The system can be arranged in a quad configuration having four stages.

A heat engine system with pressure-regulating load-locks disposed between thermal medium storage containers and heat exchangers is disclosed. A load-lock connects one or more storage containers at atmospheric pressure to one or more heat exchangers at greater than or less than atmospheric pressure.

The regenerative cooling system (100) is provided for a regenerative heat engine (1) and comprises a cooling chamber (79) which surrounds a gas expander (78), leaving open a gas circulation space (80) between said chamber (79) and said expander (78), a working gas (81) expelled from the gas expander (78) circulating in said space (80) before returning to a regenerative heat exchanger (5) where it is cooled, a large portion of the heat of said gas (81) being reintroduced into the thermodynamic cycle of the regenerative heat engine (1).

A heat engine system with pressure-regulating load-locks disposed between thermal medium storage containers and heat exchangers is disclosed. A load-lock connects one or more storage containers at atmospheric pressure to one or more heat exchangers at greater than or less than atmospheric pressure.

An improved closed loop Brayton cycle for a power plant is provided that includes a heater, at least one turbine, a recuperator, at least one cooler, at least one compressor, a bypass line and a flap valve arrangement in a closed circuit in which working fluid is circulated to produce electricity via a generator. Depending upon the requirement, such as, in case of gird load disconnection, speed of a shaft-line to which the turbine, the compressor and the generator are configured is also required to be reduced without any impact on the pressure drop in the cycle. For that the non-tight flap valve arrangement is configured on each conduit between the heater and the at least one turbine in a closest possible proximity to each turbine inlet.

The heat engine with transfer-expansion and regeneration (1) includes a compressor (2) which compresses gases in a high-pressure regeneration line (6) of a regeneration heat exchanger (5) from which they emerge preheated via a high-pressure regenerator outlet line (9) which has a heat source (12) that superheats the gases, the latter being then transferred by an admission metering valve (24) operated by a metering valve actuator (25) into a transfer-expansion chamber (16) formed in particular by an expansion cylinder (13) and an expansion piston (15), the gases leaving the chamber (16) after having been expanded via an expanded gas exhaust line (26) and thanks to an exhaust valve (31) operated by an exhaust valve actuator (32) before being cooled down in a low-pressure regeneration line (7) of the regeneration heat exchanger (5).