A high efficiency steam engine or steam expander includes a cylinder, cylinder head and piston in which cylinder clearance volume is zero or nearly zero together with a negligible amount of compression such that any pressure in the cylinder clearance volume just before the power stroke is as low as ambient pressure or condenser pressure to provide superior thermal efficiency in a compact compound engine having a high pressure expansion chamber within the piston and low pressure chamber in the cylinder. The inlet valve is opened slightly by piston movement and a steam assist force then drives it to its fully open position. Steam passes from the high pressure chamber to the low pressure chamber through a transfer valve located in the head of the piston and steam is released through an automatic exhaust valve in the cylinder head.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for operating an engine having a cylinder and a piston reciprocable therein on compressed gas. The apparatus comprises a source of compressed gas connected to a distributor which distributes the compressed gas to the cylinder. A valve is provided to selectively admit compressed gas to the cylinder when the piston is in an approximately top dead center position. Compressed gas is provided by a compressor comprising a axial compressor, a deflector blade which is located downstream of the axial compressor, a radial compressor which is located downstream of the deflector blade and a housing with a which encloses the axial compressor, deflector blade, and radial compressor.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for operating an engine having a cylinder and a piston reciprocable therein on compressed gas. The apparatus comprises a source of compressed gas connected to a distributor which distributes the compressed gas to the cylinder. A valve is provided to selectively admit compressed gas to the cylinder when the piston is in an approximately top dead center position. Compressed gas is provided by a compressor comprising a axial compressor, a deflector blade which is located downstream of the axial compressor, a radial compressor which is located downstream of the deflector blade and a housing with a which encloses the axial compressor, deflector blade, and radial compressor.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for operating an engine having a cylinder and a piston reciprocable therein on compressed gas. The apparatus comprises a source of compressed gas connected to a distributor which distributes the compressed gas to the cylinder. A valve is provided to selectively admit compressed gas to the cylinder when the piston is in an approximately top dead center position. Compressed gas is provided by a compressor comprising a axial compressor, a deflector blade which is located downstream of the axial compressor, a radial compressor which is located downstream of the deflector blade and a housing with a which encloses the axial compressor, deflector blade, and radial compressor.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for operating an engine having a cylinder and a piston reciprocable therein on compressed gas. The apparatus comprises a source of compressed gas connected to a distributor which distributes the compressed gas to the cylinder. A valve is provided to selectively admit compressed gas to the cylinder when the piston is in an approximately top dead center position. Compressed gas is provided by a compressor comprising a axial compressor, a deflector blade which is located downstream of the axial compressor, a radial compressor which is located downstream of the deflector blade and a housing with a which encloses the axial compressor, deflector blade, and radial compressor.

A bi-fuel vehicle has an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) to provide motive power to the vehicle by combustion of a liquid fuel and gas-phase fuel. The vehicle has a dual fuel tank including a liquid fuel tank to receive liquid fuel, contain the liquid fuel, and supply the liquid fuel for combustion in the ICE. The vehicle has a pressurizable gas-phase fuel tank defined by a wall. A gas-phase fuel is permeable through the wall. The pressurizable gas-phase fuel tank is to receive the gas-phase fuel, contain the gas-phase fuel, and supply the gas-phase fuel for combustion in the ICE. A shell envelops the pressurizable gas-phase fuel tank and defines an interior space of the liquid fuel tank. The wall is in fluid communication with the interior space. The interior space is to receive the permeated gas-phase fuel.

A hybrid engine comprises a housing and at least one rotor. The engine employs tongue and groove system to generate rotational movement. As the rotor pivots, reciprocating tongues slide into and out of the grooves. In pneumatic mode, introduction of compressed air forwardly into the grooves drives the rotor. Meanwhile, the air exhaust is cleared from the grooves rearwardly. In internal combustion mode, compression and air intake strokes start and end at the same time in a groove. Combustion and exhaust strokes occur simultaneously in the next groove arriving at the combustion chamber.

A hybrid engine comprises a housing and at least one rotor. The engine employs tongue and groove system to generate rotational movement. As the rotor pivots, reciprocating tongues slide into and out of the grooves. In pneumatic mode, introduction of compressed air forwardly into the grooves drives the rotor. Meanwhile, the air exhaust is cleared from the grooves rearwardly. In internal combustion mode, compression and air intake strokes start and end at the same time in a groove. Combustion and exhaust strokes occur simultaneously in the next groove arriving at the combustion chamber.

An apparatus (10) for compressing and expanding a gas includes a chamber (22), a positive displacement device (24) moveable relative thereto, first and second valves (26, 28) activatable to control flow of gas into and out of the chamber (22), and a controller (80) for controlling activation of the valves (26, 28) that selectively switches operation between a compression and an expansion mode with selective switching between modes being achieved by selectively changing the activation timing of at least one of the valves during the first mode. An energy storage system including the device may be operatively coupled via a rotary device for power transmission to an input/output device, whereby the direction and speed of rotation are preserved during switching, and the input/output device may be synchronized to the grid.

An apparatus (10) for compressing and expanding a gas includes a chamber (22), a positive displacement device (24) moveable relative thereto, first and second valves (26, 28) activatable to control flow of gas into and out of the chamber (22), and a controller (80) for controlling activation of the valves (26, 28) that selectively switches operation between a compression and an expansion mode with selective switching between modes being achieved by selectively changing the activation timing of at least one of the valves during the first mode. An energy storage system including the device may be operatively coupled via a rotary device for power transmission to an input/output device, whereby the direction and speed of rotation are preserved during switching, and the input/output device may be synchronized to the grid.