Air energy storage with internal combustion engines

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and system for increasing power output and enhancing efficiency of an internal combustion engine, which comprises: cooling exhaust gas of the engine in a recuperating heat exchanger by transferring heat to stored air; compressing the exhaust gas to a pressure requisite for admission into the engine utilizing a compander module powered by expanding previously compressed and stored air in an expander without parasitic power consumption; mixing the exhaust gas with expanded air; and cooling or heating the exhaust gas to a suitable temperature in a final trim cooler or heater and supplying the exhaust gas to the engine at a pressure requisite at an admission point, without the need for additional compression and concomitant parasitic power consumption needed for exhaust gas recirculation. Extra electric power output and higher thermal efficiency is facilitated by using the excess power generation from the compander in a synchronous AC generator.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.