A renewable energy and waste heat harvesting system is disclosed. The system includes an accumulator unit having a high pressure accumulator and a low pressure accumulator. At least one piston is mounted for reciprocation in the high pressure accumulator. The accumulator unit is configured to receive, store, and transfer energy from the hydraulic fluid to the energy storage media. The system collects energy from a renewable energy source and transfers the collected energy using the pressurized hydraulic fluid. The system further includes one or more rotational directional control valves, in which at least one rotational directional control valve is positioned on each side of the accumulator unit. Each rotational directional control valve includes multiple ports. The system also includes one or more variable displacement hydraulic rotational units. At least one variable displacement hydraulic rotational unit is positioned adjacent each of the rotational directional control valves.

An electronically commutated hydraulic machine is coupled to a drivetrain. Working chambers of the hydraulic machine are connected to low and high pressure manifold through electronically controlled valves. The phase of opening and closing of the valves has a default. In order to avoid cycle failure due to acceleration events, for example due to backlash in the drivetrain, the phase of opening or closing of the electronically controlled valves is temporarily advanced or retarded from the default timing.

A renewable energy and waste heat harvesting system is disclosed. The system includes an accumulator unit having a high pressure accumulator and a low pressure accumulator. At least one piston is mounted for reciprocation in the high pressure accumulator. The accumulator unit is configured to receive, store, and transfer energy from the hydraulic fluid to the energy storage media. The system collects energy from a renewable energy source and transfers the collected energy using the pressurized hydraulic fluid. The system further includes one or more rotational directional control valves, in which at least one rotational directional control valve is positioned on each side of the accumulator unit. Each rotational directional control valve includes multiple ports. The system also includes one or more variable displacement hydraulic rotational units. At least one variable displacement hydraulic rotational unit is positioned adjacent each of the rotational directional control valves.

The invention relates to a piston type expander (4) comprising: an intake cylinder head for a working fluid in the gaseous state under pressure comprising an intake opening (40) for said working fluid, an expansion zone connected to the intake cylinder head and comprising a plurality of cylinders, wherein a piston sliding in each respective cylinder is connected to a shaft (42) by a mechanical connection, each cylinder comprising at least one exhaust port (12) through which the expanded working fluid in the gaseous state can be discharged from the expansion zone, a crankcase (17) designed to contain a lubricant in the liquid state, wherein is positioned said mechanical connection, a cavity provided in the expander (4), connected to said exhaust ports, leading to an exhaust opening (41) of the expander for the expanded working fluid in the gaseous state, said cavity being designed to guide a flow of the expanded working fluid bearing a fraction of lubricant in the liquid state, said cavity (43) having a common wall with the crankcase (17) and being designed to favor the separation of the liquid lubricant fraction from the expanded working fluid in the gaseous state.

The invention relates to a piston type expander (4) comprising: an intake cylinder head for a working fluid in the gaseous state under pressure comprising an intake opening (40) for said working fluid, an expansion zone connected to the intake cylinder head and comprising a plurality of cylinders, wherein a piston sliding in each respective cylinder is connected to a shaft (42) by a mechanical connection, each cylinder comprising at least one exhaust port (12) through which the expanded working fluid in the gaseous state can be discharged from the expansion zone, a crankcase (17) designed to contain a lubricant in the liquid state, wherein is positioned said mechanical connection, a cavity provided in the expander (4), connected to said exhaust ports, leading to an exhaust opening (41) of the expander for the expanded working fluid in the gaseous state, said cavity being designed to guide a flow of the expanded working fluid bearing a fraction of lubricant in the liquid state, said cavity (43) having a common wall with the crankcase (17) and being designed to favor the separation of the liquid lubricant fraction from the expanded working fluid in the gaseous state.

A renewable energy and waste heat harvesting system is disclosed. The system includes an accumulator unit having a high pressure accumulator and a low pressure accumulator. At least one piston is mounted for reciprocation in the high pressure accumulator. The accumulator unit is configured to receive, store, and transfer energy from the hydraulic fluid to the energy storage media. The system collects energy from a renewable energy source and transfers the collected energy using the pressurized hydraulic fluid. The system further includes one or more rotational directional control valves, in which at least one rotational directional control valve is positioned on each side of the accumulator unit. Each rotational directional control valve includes multiple ports. The system also includes one or more variable displacement hydraulic rotational units. At least one variable displacement hydraulic rotational unit is positioned adjacent each of the rotational directional control valves.

An apparatus for generating energy by intake and drainage of a fluid includes a reservoir and a pair of receptacles in fluid communication with the reservoir and mounted above the reservoir. Each of the pair of receptacles has a variable volume for holding the fluid. The variable volume is controlled by movable portions. The apparatus includes a lever rotatable about a lever pivot. The lever is coupled at a first side of the lever pivot to the movable portions associated with a first one of the pair of receptacles. The lever is coupled at a second side of the lever pivot to moveable portions associated with a second one of the pair of receptacles. The apparatus includes control valves controlling fluid communication between the pair of receptacles and the reservoir and a controller coupled to the control valves. The apparatus includes a generator coupled to moving portions.

An apparatus for generating energy by intake and drainage of a fluid includes a reservoir and a pair of receptacles in fluid communication with the reservoir and mounted above the reservoir. Each of the pair of receptacles has a variable volume for holding the fluid. The variable volume is controlled by movable portions. The apparatus includes a lever rotatable about a lever pivot. The lever is coupled at a first side of the lever pivot to the movable portions associated with a first one of the pair of receptacles. The lever is coupled at a second side of the lever pivot to moveable portions associated with a second one of the pair of receptacles. The apparatus includes control valves controlling fluid communication between the pair of receptacles and the reservoir and a controller coupled to the control valves. The apparatus includes a generator coupled to moving portions.

An electronically commutated hydraulic machine is coupled to a drivetrain. Working chambers of the hydraulic machine are connected to low and high pressure manifold through electronically controlled valves. The phase of opening and closing of the valves has a default. In order to avoid cycle failure due to acceleration events, for example due to backlash in the drivetrain, the phase of opening or closing of the electronically controlled valves is temporarily advanced or retarded from the default timing.

An apparatus for generating energy by intake and drainage of a fluid includes a reservoir and a pair of receptacles in fluid communication with the reservoir and mounted above the reservoir. Each of the pair of receptacles has a variable volume for holding the fluid. The variable volume is controlled by movable portions. The apparatus includes a lever rotatable about a lever pivot. The lever is coupled at a first side of the lever pivot to the movable portions associated with a first one of the pair of receptacles. The lever is coupled at a second side of the lever pivot to moveable portions associated with a second one of the pair of receptacles. The apparatus includes control valves controlling fluid communication between the pair of receptacles and the reservoir and a controller coupled to the control valves. The apparatus includes a generator coupled to moving portions.