A system for generating electricity by pyrolyzing organic materials and feeding the pyrolysis fluid to a battery of fuel-cells. The system includes a pyrolysis reactor receiving organic materials and producing pyrolysis fluid. The fluid pyrolysis is then separated into a plurality of sub-mixtures, each provided via a respective separator output. A plurality of fuel-cell devices for generating electricity using different technologies are each coupled to a respective separator output. A controller controls the pyrolysis reactor, the separator device, and the plurality of fuel-cell devices according to a signal representing a demand for electric power, a signal representing cost of operating at least one of the pyrolysis reactor and the fuel-cell generator, and a signal representing minimum price of electric power.

A system for generating electricity by pyrolyzing organic materials and feeding the pyrolysis fluid to a battery of fuel-cells. The system includes a pyrolysis reactor receiving organic materials and producing pyrolysis fluid. The fluid pyrolysis is then separated into a plurality of sub-mixtures, each provided via a respective separator output. A plurality of fuel-cell devices for generating electricity using different technologies are each coupled to a respective separator output. A controller controls the pyrolysis reactor, the separator device, and the plurality of fuel-cell devices according to a signal representing a demand for electric power, a signal representing cost of operating at least one of the pyrolysis reactor and the fuel-cell generator, and a signal representing minimum price of electric power.

An internal combustion-type engine or powertrain that is capable of burning wet-alcohol fuel mixture and including a piston reciprocating within a cylinder attached to a cylinder head and connecting to a crank shaft via a connecting rod. An intake cam and valve is mounted within an intake port formed in the cylinder head and an exhaust cam and valve is mounted within an exhaust port also formed in the cylinder head. A pressurized fuel source is introduced into the cylinder by a fuel injector and the percentage of water in the alcohol/water mix operates to prolong the cylinder pressure in order to increase a mean effective pressure (IMEP), leading to a higher torque (improved Brake Mean Effective Pressure—BMEP) of the engine via a longer pressure pulse attained during the period of preferred mechanical advantage of the crank-arm of the engine.

A compression ignition engine system allows use of hydrous fuels, in particular hydrous biofuels, with high water content (e.g., 20-85% water). The hydrous fuel is pressurized, and also preferably heated via the engine's exhaust gas, to increase its enthalpy, and is then directly injected into the engine cylinder(s) near top dead center. The system provides brake thermal efficiency increases of 20% or more versus a comparable system using conventional diesel fuel, while allowing the use of inexpensive undistilled or lightly distilled biofuels.

The invention relates to a fluid circuit (3) comprising: —a supply line (5) for carrying a fluid from a pump (4) connected to a fluid tank (2) to an equipment (8), the supply line having a portion which is divided into a main line (10) including a heat exchanger (13), and a by-pass line (15) for by-passing said heat exchanger; —a first valve (31) for controlling the respective fluid flows in the main line (10) and in the by-pass line (15), and a first control device (33) for controlling the first valve (31) depending on a first parameter (T) of the fluid; —a pressure regulation circuit for carrying fluid from the supply line (5) towards the fluid tank (2), said pressure regulation circuit comprising a pressure regulation valve (23) for controlling the flow of fluid directed back to the fluid tank (2); wherein the pressure regulation circuit comprises: —a first recirculation line (21) branching from the supply line (5) downstream from the by-pass line outlet (17); —a second recirculation line (22) branching from the supply line (5) upstream from the by-pass line inlet (16); —a second valve (32) for controlling the respective fluid flows in the first recirculation line (21) and in the second recirculation line (22), and a second control device (33) for controlling the first valve (31) depending on a second parameter (T) of the fluid.

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.

Disclosed herein are a fuel supply system for ships and a fuel supply method using the same. The fuel supply method includes: 1) supplying an excess amount of liquefied gas as fuel to an incompressible fluid-fueled engine (E); 2) cooling unconsumed fuel discharged from the engine (E) through heat exchange with liquefied gas discharged from a storage tank (T); 3) returning the unconsumed fuel discharged from the engine (E) and having been cooled through heat exchange in step 2) to the storage tank (T); and 4) supplying the liquefied gas discharged from the storage tank (T) and having been used as refrigerant for heat exchange in step 2) to the engine (E). The fuel supply method can prevent cavitation in the engine (E) by supplying the excess amount of liquefied gas sufficient to accommodate variation in load of the engine (E) as fuel to the engine (E).

Disclosed herein are a fuel supply system for ships and a fuel supply method using the same. The fuel supply method includes: 1) supplying an excess amount of liquefied gas as fuel to an incompressible fluid-fueled engine (E); 2) cooling unconsumed fuel discharged from the engine (E) through heat exchange with liquefied gas discharged from a storage tank (T); 3) returning the unconsumed fuel discharged from the engine (E) and having been cooled through heat exchange in step 2) to the storage tank (T); and 4) supplying the liquefied gas discharged from the storage tank (T) and having been used as refrigerant for heat exchange in step 2) to the engine (E). The fuel supply method can prevent cavitation in the engine (E) by supplying the excess amount of liquefied gas sufficient to accommodate variation in load of the engine (E) as fuel to the engine (E).

An internal combustion engine is operated at fuel-rich conditions by adjusting one or more operating parameters such as, for example, a throttle, an ignition timing, a load coupled to the engine, a fuel pressure, power to a supercharger, and power to a preheater to maintain a specified engine speed and a temperature of an exhaust gas. Operating the engine under these conditions allows the engine to function as a reformer producing a synthesis gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide.