Engine operating using a compression SMA material

Abstract

Energy recovery device and method for recovering energy comprising an engine comprising a plurality of elongated Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) elements or Negative Thermal Expansion (NTE) elements configured as a core and connected to a drive mechanism; an immersion chamber adapted for housing the engine and adapted to be sequentially filled with fluid to allow a heating cycle and a cooling cycle of the SMA elements or NTE elements to expand and contract the SMA elements or NTE elements; and a compression device configured to apply a compressive mechanical force to at least one of the SMA elements or at least one of the NTE elements. The applied compressive mechanical force compresses the at least one SMA element or the at least one NTE element further during the cooling cycle.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.