A pressure reduction system may include an alternator with a casing and a rotor positioned, at least in part, within a cavity defined by the casing. The pressure reduction system may also include a mass management system that includes a control tank configured to be maintained at a tank pressure lower than a cavity pressure within the cavity of the alternator, thereby forming a pressure differential. A first transfer conduit may transfer a working fluid from the cavity of the alternator to the control tank via the pressure differential. The mass management system may be positioned at an elevation above the alternator, and include a refrigeration loop configured to cool the working fluid contained within the control tank. A second transfer conduit may fluidly couple the alternator and the mass management system, and may transfer the cooled working fluid from the control tank to the cavity via gravitational force.

A pressure reduction system may include an alternator with a casing and a rotor positioned, at least in part, within a cavity defined by the casing. The pressure reduction system may also include a mass management system that includes a control tank configured to be maintained at a tank pressure lower than a cavity pressure within the cavity of the alternator, thereby forming a pressure differential. A first transfer conduit may transfer a working fluid from the cavity of the alternator to the control tank via the pressure differential. The mass management system may be positioned at an elevation above the alternator, and include a refrigeration loop configured to cool the working fluid contained within the control tank. A second transfer conduit may fluidly couple the alternator and the mass management system, and may transfer the cooled working fluid from the control tank to the cavity via gravitational force.

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.

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.

Disclosed is a process that combines interacting main processes and sub-processes to extract kinetic energy from thermal energy. These different interacting processes and sub-processes are physically separate from each other with the main processes operating as closed cycles that operate with two different process fluids parallel to each other and interact with each other, in order to consider and utilize sufficiently all three forms of energy, i.e. thermal energy, kinetic energy, and the energy of the phase changes. By interacting, these different main processes and sub-processes enable a combined-process that especially allows the highly efficient transformation of low temperature thermal energy into kinetic energy. Also disclosed is a system for carrying out the process.

A heat-driven engine having a first, thermally conductive, pump to which a working medium is admitted and within which the working medium subsequently absorbs its latent heat while undergoing a phase change from low to high enthalpy phase before being expelled from the first pump. Also, a restrictive cooling element accepts the working medium in its high enthalpy phase and allows it to release its latent heat and undergo a phase change from a liquid to a low enthalpy phase. A first and a second passage, through which the working medium traverses, connects the first pump and the cooling element. The second passage incorporates a thermally conductive element, placing the working medium in thermal contact with a heat source or sink. Also, a heat pump is in thermal contact with the first pump and the cooling element. Finally, a power transmission element links the first pump to the heat pump.

A heat-driven engine having a first, thermally conductive, pump to which a working medium is admitted and within which the working medium subsequently absorbs its latent heat while undergoing a phase change from low to high enthalpy phase before being expelled from the first pump. Also, a restrictive cooling element accepts the working medium in its high enthalpy phase and allows it to release its latent heat and undergo a phase change from a liquid to a low enthalpy phase. A first and a second passage, through which the working medium traverses, connects the first pump and the cooling element. The second passage incorporates a thermally conductive element, placing the working medium in thermal contact with a heat source or sink. Also, a heat pump is in thermal contact with the first pump and the cooling element. Finally, a power transmission element links the first pump to the heat pump.

A thermal engine includes a thermal battery with a thermal mass for storing regenerative wind and solar energy using a solar lens and mechanical friction generated by the rotation of a wind turbine. The thermal engine comprises a thermal battery; a thermal engine; means of charging the thermal battery using natural energy including a solar lens; a wind turbine; and charging by electrical means. The invention further comprises a means of converting stored thermal energy to mechanical power using non-combustible fluids to drive devices such as an electric generator, a water pump; a means of using said thermal energy to directly heat homes and industrial facilities; a means of using said thermal energy for cooling homes and industrial facilities.

A system (100) comprises a cryogenic engine (16) and a power generation apparatus, wherein the cryogenic engine and the power generation apparatus are coupled with each other to permit the cryogenic engine (16) and the power generation apparatus to work co-operatively with each other in a synergistic manner. The cryogenic engine (16) and the power generation apparatus are mechanically and optionally thermally coupled with each other so that the output means is shared between the cryogenic engine (16) and the power generation apparatus and that the two systems can be operated in the most power efficient manner and may also thermally interact to the potential advantage of both performance and economy.

A system (100) comprises a cryogenic engine (16) and a power generation apparatus, wherein the cryogenic engine and the power generation apparatus are coupled with each other to permit the cryogenic engine (16) and the power generation apparatus to work co-operatively with each other in a synergistic manner. The cryogenic engine (16) and the power generation apparatus are mechanically and optionally thermally coupled with each other so that the output means is shared between the cryogenic engine (16) and the power generation apparatus and that the two systems can be operated in the most power efficient manner and may also thermally interact to the potential advantage of both performance and economy.