A vehicle includes an internal combustion engine (ICE) selectable between a running state and a non-running state. A thermoelectric generator (TEG) is in thermal contact with the ICE for converting thermal energy from the ICE to output electrical energy. The vehicle has an electric pump for circulating a liquid coolant through a coolant circuit. The electric pump is selectively powerable by the electrical energy output from the TEG. The coolant circuit is in fluid communication with the ICE, a radiator, and the TEG; and the TEG is downstream of the radiator in the coolant circuit.

An energy recovery system and a method of recovering energy are disclosed. In one arrangement, an exhaust gas conduit system guides a flow of exhaust gas generated by a combustion process. A heat exchange fluid circuit guides a flow of a heat exchange fluid. An electrical generator generates electrical power from the flow of heat exchange fluid. The heat exchange fluid circuit is configured so that heat is transferred from the exhaust gas to the heat exchange fluid while the exhaust gas is flowing through the exhaust gas conduit system.

An energy recovery system and a method of recovering energy are disclosed. In one arrangement, an exhaust gas conduit system guides a flow of exhaust gas generated by a combustion process. A heat exchange fluid circuit guides a flow of a heat exchange fluid. An electrical generator generates electrical power from the flow of heat exchange fluid. The heat exchange fluid circuit is configured so that heat is transferred from the exhaust gas to the heat exchange fluid while the exhaust gas is flowing through the exhaust gas conduit system.

A self-powered recharge system and method for battery operated vehicles. The self-powered recharge system includes a vehicle driven by a motor that utilizes a plurality of assemblies for recovering energy to a power source of the vehicle. The system includes a wind capturing assembly having a turbine disposed within pass through areas of the vehicle and is operably connected to the power source. The system also includes a kinetic recapture assembly having a gear operably connected to a component of the vehicle, wherein the component is selected from at least one of: an axle and a driveshaft. The kinetic recapture assembly is able to recover energy from a braking operation and is used to re-charge the power source. In one embodiment, the recharge system further provides a solar panel and thermal recapture assembly including a Rankine cycle device.

An example power generation system includes two capacitors and an electric load. A first capacitor includes a dielectric material that is configured to transition from a ferroelectric phase to a paraelectric or antiferroelectric phase when heated above a first transition temperature, and to transition from the paraelectric or antiferroelectric phase to the ferroelectric phase when cooled below a second transition temperature. A second capacitor is electrically coupled in parallel to the first capacitor. The electric load is electrically coupled to the first capacitor and the second capacitor. The system is configured to cyclically cool the dielectric material below the second transition temperature to draw a charge from the second capacitor to the first capacitors through the electric load, and heat the dielectric material beyond the first transition temperature to draw a charge from the first capacitor to the second capacitors through the electric load.

A vehicle is provided which includes a Stirling Cycle engine that generates a flow of exhaust gases from the external combustion of a fuel supply. The vehicle is equipped with a thermoelectric generator module which is in fluidic communication with the flow of exhaust gases generated by the Stirling Cycle engine. The thermoelectric generator module includes a thermopile array, and generates electrical energy from the thermal energy in the flow of exhaust gases.

A vehicle is provided which includes a Stirling Cycle engine that generates a flow of exhaust gases from the external combustion of a fuel supply. The vehicle is equipped with a thermoelectric generator module which is in fluidic communication with the flow of exhaust gases generated by the Stirling Cycle engine. The thermoelectric generator module includes a thermopile array, and generates electrical energy from the thermal energy in the flow of exhaust gases.

A thermoelectric vehicle system which provides a cost-effective and sustainable means of transportation for long operation range with zero emission using an onboard low energy nuclear reaction thermal generator. The present invention generally includes a thermal generator within a thermal enclosure case, an energy conversion system linked with the thermal generator, an energy storage system linked with the energy conversion system, a cooling system and a central control system. The thermal generator reacts nickel powder with hydrogen within a reactor chamber to produce heat. The heat is then transferred to the energy conversion system to be converted into electricity for storage in the energy storage system. The cooling system provides cooling for the various components of the present invention and the control system regulates its overall operation. The present invention may be utilized to power a vehicle in an efficient, sustainable and cost-effective manner.

The present invention relates to a hybrid system comprising a supercharging system for an internal combustion engine (1), the hybrid system comprising: a charging device (6) with a turbine (7) connected to a compressor (8) via a compressor shaft (9), the compressor having a high speed shaft (30); a planetary gear (25) coupled between the high speed shaft (30) and an electric motor/generator (20); a clutch (18a); and a power transmission for connecting a crank shaft (4) of the combustion engine (1) to the electric motor/generator (20) via the clutch (18a); wherein the hybrid system further comprises a system control (23) configured to operate the hybrid system in different operating modes according to a control sequence based on one, or a plurality of, input parameters representative of operational properties of the hybrid system.

An apparatus V and a method, preferably for a motor vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle. The apparatus V includes an internal combustion engine, an expansion machine and a generator. The expansion machine and the generator can be operatively connected both to one another and in each case to the internal combustion engine via a transmission, in order to make selective electrical utilization and mechanical utilization of the energy of the expansion machine possible.