Other

Regenic Corporation

Allan J Ferrenberg

William T Webber

Alvin Lowi, Jr

An improved, internal combustion, reciprocating engine employs thermal regeneration to improve its efficiency and power. Regeneration is accomplished through the use of an alternating flow heat exchanger. In one embodiment the engine consists of one or more cylinders containing a pair of opposed pistons, a hot piston and a cold piston separated by a stationary regenerator. The engine is equipped with means to introduce gaseous or liquid fuel into said hot volume, means to introduce fresh working fluid and means to remove exhaust gases from the cold volume. In one embodiment one or more exhaust ports permitting the flow of exhaust fluid out of the cylinder are located between a cold piston and the thermal regenerator and one or more intake ports permitting the flow of fresh working fluid into the cylinder are located between the cold piston and the exhaust ports. The engine can provide greater expansion than compression and can provide critical and substantial improvements over previous engines.

Stationary regenerator, regenerated, reciprocating engine

An improved, reciprocating internal combustion engine is disclosed herein. This engine consists of multiple cylinders, each closed by a cylinder head and containing a piston which is connected to a power output shaft. Each cylinder has means for the intake and exhaust of working fluid. It also contains a movable, thermal regenerator, an alternating flow heat exchanger, and means to move this regenerator. Finally, means are provided for the introduction of fuel into the cylinder. The regenerated, internal combustion, reciprocating engine and several variations on it disclosed herein are substantially different from prior art and provide critical improvements over that prior art. These improvements include different operating processes--especially an improved heating stroke, the use of unequal effective compression and expansion ratios, non direct fuel injection, and others.

Regenerated engine with an improved heating stroke

An improved, reciprocating internal combustion engine is disclosed herein. This engine consists of multiple cylinders, each closed by a cylinder head and containing a piston which is connected to a power output shaft. Each cylinder has means for the intake and exhaust of working fluid. It also contains a movable, thermal regenerator, an alternating flow heat exchanger, and means to move this regenerator. Finally, means are provided for the introduction of fuel into the cylinder. The regenerated, internal combustion, reciprocating engine and several variations on it disclosed herein are substantially different from prior art and provide critical improvements over that prior art. These improvements include different and superior heating and cooling strokes.

Regenerated engine with improved heating and cooling strokes

A highly efficient regenerative reciprocating internal combustion engine is disclosed. The regenerator captures the unutilized heat normally expelled with the exhaust products of such an engine and transfers it to fresh working fluid at the appropriate time in the next engine operating cycle to reduce the quantity of fuel which must be burned, resulting in an increase in engine efficiency. This is accomplished through the use of a permeable, movable heat exchanger located between the piston and the cylinder head. This regenerative technique can be applied to both two and four stroke Diesel cycle and Otto cycle engines. It can also be employed in ported (i.e. valveless) engines. The hot combustion region can be located between the cylinder head and the regenerator or between the piston and the regenerator. These regenerative devices and processes greatly improve the thermal efficiency of conventional internal combustion engines, while providing power outputs similar to conventional engines of the same displacement, greatly reducing hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions, and utilizing much the same hardware. In addition, the regenerative internal combustion engine places reduced heat loads on engine components, is operable at lower peak temperatures (with thermal efficiencies and power still comparable to conventional engines), and is better able to utilize high temperature materials which can reduce heat loss to engine cooling systems.

Growing community of inventors

Bishop, CA, United States of America

Allan J Ferrenberg