The invention provides a fuel treatment system for cracking hydrocarbons in fuel for combustion engines. The system comprises a primary ducting component having an exhaust gas inlet zone, and a secondary ducting component which includes a fuel enrichment component and a processing chamber. The processing chamber may have an outlet zone connectable to the combustion engine. The inlet zone of the primary ducting component and the outlet zone of the processing chamber may be configured in a heat exchange relationship with each other and in a counter-current gas flow direction with respect to each other. During operation of the system, heat from hottest volumes of the exhaust gas flowing in a furthest upstream portion of the ducting arrangement may be transferred to fuel-enriched exhaust gas flowing in a furthest downstream portion of the processing chamber. The system may include turbulence-inducing formations, including vortex-inducing formations configured in accordance with mathematical sequences such as the Fibonacci sequence.

The invention provides a fuel treatment system for cracking hydrocarbons in fuel for combustion engines. The system comprises a primary ducting component having an exhaust gas inlet zone, and a secondary ducting component which includes a fuel enrichment component and a processing chamber. The processing chamber may have an outlet zone connectable to the combustion engine. The inlet zone of the primary ducting component and the outlet zone of the processing chamber may be configured in a heat exchange relationship with each other and in a counter-current gas flow direction with respect to each other. During operation of the system, heat from hottest volumes of the exhaust gas flowing in a furthest upstream portion of the ducting arrangement may be transferred to fuel-enriched exhaust gas flowing in a furthest downstream portion of the processing chamber. The system may include turbulence-inducing formations, including vortex-inducing formations configured in accordance with mathematical sequences such as the Fibonacci sequence.

A surgical frame and method for use thereof is provided. The surgical frame is capable of reconfiguration before, during, or after surgery. The surgical frame includes a main beam that can be rotated, raised/lowered, and tilted upwardly/downwardly to afford positioning and repositioning of a patient supported thereon. The main beam is capable of be reconfigured between a left configuration and a right configuration to support the patient in different positions thereon.

A surgical frame and method for use thereof is provided. The surgical frame is capable of reconfiguration before, during, or after surgery. The surgical frame includes a main beam that can be rotated, raised/lowered, and tilted upwardly/downwardly to afford positioning and repositioning of a patient supported thereon. The main beam is capable of be reconfigured between a left configuration and a right configuration to support the patient in different positions thereon.

A split cycle internal combustion engine includes a combustion cylinder accommodating a combustion piston and a compression cylinder accommodating a compression piston. The engine also includes a controller arranged to receive an indication of a parameter associated with the combustion cylinder and/or a fluid associated therewith and to control an exhaust valve of the combustion cylinder in dependence on the indicated parameter to cause the exhaust valve to close during the return stroke of the combustion piston, before the combustion piston has reached its top dead centre position (TDC), when the indicated parameter is less than a target value for the parameter; and close on completion of the return stroke of the combustion piston, as the combustion piston reaches its top dead centre position (TDC), when the indicated parameter is equal to or greater than the target value for the parameter.

A split cycle internal combustion engine includes a combustion cylinder accommodating a combustion piston and a compression cylinder accommodating a compression piston. The engine also includes a controller arranged to receive an indication of a parameter associated with the combustion cylinder and/or a fluid associated therewith and to control an exhaust valve of the combustion cylinder in dependence on the indicated parameter to cause the exhaust valve to close during the return stroke of the combustion piston, before the combustion piston has reached its top dead centre position (TDC), when the indicated parameter is less than a target value for the parameter; and close on completion of the return stroke of the combustion piston, as the combustion piston reaches its top dead centre position (TDC), when the indicated parameter is equal to or greater than the target value for the parameter.

A method for cold start pre-warming of a pressure-charged internal combustion engine and/or of an exhaust gas aftertreatment device of a internal combustion engine, includes arranging a cold-starting aid in the intake duct for warming the charge air while the engine is stationary. The internal combustion engine has at least one working cylinder with at least one inlet valve and at least one outlet valve and further includes a device for setting a valve position. The internal combustion engine can be pressure-charged by a pressure-charging device operable by an electric motor. In the method, after detection of a cold start of the internal combustion engine: the cold-starting aid is activated while the engine is stationary; electric-motor operation of the pressure-charging device is activated; and a valve overlap between at least one inlet valve and at least one outlet valve is set.

A method for cold start pre-warming of a pressure-charged internal combustion engine and/or of an exhaust gas aftertreatment device of a internal combustion engine, includes arranging a cold-starting aid in the intake duct for warming the charge air while the engine is stationary. The internal combustion engine has at least one working cylinder with at least one inlet valve and at least one outlet valve and further includes a device for setting a valve position. The internal combustion engine can be pressure-charged by a pressure-charging device operable by an electric motor. In the method, after detection of a cold start of the internal combustion engine: the cold-starting aid is activated while the engine is stationary; electric-motor operation of the pressure-charging device is activated; and a valve overlap between at least one inlet valve and at least one outlet valve is set.

A fuel vaporizer including fuel injectors is described herein. The vaporizer includes a housing having a plurality of baffles defining a plurality of chambers, with each of the plurality of baffles defining an aperture between adjacent chamber, and the apertures define a flow path from the air inlet, through the plurality of chambers, and to the vapor outlet. A conduit extends through the baffles and chambers, and the conduit is adapted to accept a flow exhaust gas and transfer thermal energy from the exhaust gas to an airflow along the flow path A fuel injector is positioned in the housing to inject fuel into the flow path in the first chamber, the thermal energy from the conduit vaporizing the fuel injected into the airflow and producing the flow of vaporized fuel. The fuel vaporizer may include a heat exchanger pre-heating the airflow and electric heating elements supplementing the conduit heating.

A fuel vaporizer including fuel injectors is described herein. The vaporizer includes a housing having a plurality of baffles defining a plurality of chambers, with each of the plurality of baffles defining an aperture between adjacent chamber, and the apertures define a flow path from the air inlet, through the plurality of chambers, and to the vapor outlet. A conduit extends through the baffles and chambers, and the conduit is adapted to accept a flow exhaust gas and transfer thermal energy from the exhaust gas to an airflow along the flow path A fuel injector is positioned in the housing to inject fuel into the flow path in the first chamber, the thermal energy from the conduit vaporizing the fuel injected into the airflow and producing the flow of vaporized fuel. The fuel vaporizer may include a heat exchanger pre-heating the airflow and electric heating elements supplementing the conduit heating.