A system including a pump, a boiler coupled to the pump, a turbine coupled to the boiler, a two-phase expander coupled to the turbine, and a condenser coupled to the two-phase expander and the pump.

The present invention describes an external combustion rotary engine, which, due to the separate combustion chamber of the engine, is possible the operation at a lower temperature than those internal combustions, therefore, the engine efficiency is greater. Another characteristic presented by the external combustion rotary engine is that it has concentric expansion chambers and through cams that have a rotor, it is possible to take advantage of the expansion force of the working fluid. The external combustion rotary engine is of closed-cycle operation, so the consumption of additional water is reduced as work fluid since the amount of water within the system is sufficient. Finally, it is worth mentioning that the external combustion rotary engine, thanks to its operation principle, can be applied in the electric power generation field.

Prime movers are provided that can include: a fixed member in operational relationship to a rotating member; a reciprocating vane assembly operationally engaged with the rotating member; and a track member about the rotating member and engaging the reciprocating vane assembly. Engines are provided that can include: a stator in operational relationship to a rotor; a reciprocating vane assembly operationally engaged with the rotor; and a track member about the rotor and engaging the reciprocating vane assembly. Processes for powering a prime mover are also provided, the processes can include engaging vanes between a fixed member and rotating member to create compression and expansion zones, the engaging comprising guiding the vanes from a track member about the rotating member.

A compressor includes a rotary shaft, a rotating body, a fixed body, a vane, and a compression chamber. The vane has a vane end that contacts the surface of fixed body. The fixed body surface includes two curved surfaces. The curved surface includes a convex surface and a concave surface. The convex surface has a convex surface inner end and a convex surface outer end. The curvature of the convex surface inner end is greater than the curvature of the convex surface outer end. The concave surface has a concave surface inner end and a concave surface outer end. The curvature of the concave surface inner end is greater than the curvature of the concave surface outer end.

Prime movers are provided that can include: a pair of cylindrical members about a center rod, a fixed member about the center rod between the pair of cylindrical members; wherein the pair of cylindrical members rotate with the center rod in relation to the fixed member; a housing extending between the cylindrical members; and a plurality of chambers between the opposing bases of the cylindrical members and the fixed member. Methods for rotating members in relation to a fixed member are also provided. The methods can include rotating a pair of cylindrical members in relation to a fixed member about a center rod along a shared axis within a housing extending between the pair of cylindrical members.

Electricity generators are provided that can include: members having opposing bases that include chambers to facilitate the conversion of source energy to mechanical energy with one of the members rotating in relation to another of the members and a housing about the rotating member. Generator components can be operably engaged to the housing and rotating member to generate electricity. Methods for generating electricity are also provided. The methods can include: rotating a first cylindrical member in relation to a fixed second member about a center rod along a shared axis within a housing; and generating electricity between conductive components along both the sidewalls of the first cylindrical member and the housing.

A system including a pump, a boiler coupled to the pump, a turbine coupled to the boiler, a two-phase expander coupled to the turbine, and a condenser coupled to the two-phase expander and the pump.

A vane cell machine includes a housing, rotor, curved ring, spring, and pressure piece. The rotor is configured to rotate about a rotation axis and includes a plurality of plate-like wings that are radially displaceable. The curved ring surrounds the rotor and delimits a movement path of the wings. Each pair of adjacent plate-like wings delimits a corresponding operating chamber. The housing surrounds and enables displacement of the curved ring. The spring is positioned between the curved ring and the housing, is pretensioned, and is configured to load the curved ring. The pressure piece is positioned between the spring and the curved ring, and sealingly abuts the housing and the curved ring so as to delimit a first and second pressure chamber from each other. The housing and the curved ring further delimit the first and second pressure chambers.

The invention specifies a hydraulic vane-type machine (1) having a stator (2) and having a rotor (3) which has multiple vanes (4), each of which vanes is radially displaceable in a guide (5) in the rotor (3), bears against an inner circumference (6) of the stator (2), and, together with the rotor (3), the stator (2) and in each case one side wall (7) at each axial end of the rotor (3), delimits working chambers whose volumes vary in the event of a rotation of the rotor (3) relative to the stator (2). It is sought to obtain a certain degree of freedom for the design of the inner circumference. For this purpose, it is provided that each vane (4) has, on its radially inner side, an abutment surface (17) which bears radially at the outside against a cam disk (15).

Prime movers are provided that can include: a pair of cylindrical members about a center rod, a fixed member about the center rod between the pair of cylindrical members; wherein the pair of cylindrical members rotate with the center rod in relation to the fixed member; a housing extending between the cylindrical members; and a plurality of chambers between the opposing bases of the cylindrical members and the fixed member. Methods for rotating members in relation to a fixed member are also provided. The methods can include rotating a pair of cylindrical members in relation to a fixed member about a center rod along a shared axis within a housing extending between the pair of cylindrical members.