Stationary regenerator, regenerated, reciprocating engine

A regenerated internal combustion engine comprising:

• at least one cylinder, closed at one end by a movable hot piston and closed at the other end by a movable cold piston, said pistons moving in a reciprocating manner and connected to a power output shaft by one or more barrel cams having geometries which are contoured to provide to said hot piston and to said cold piston non-sinusoidal motion having specified dwell periods;
• a thermal regenerator located within said cylinder between said pistons, said regenerator dividing said cylinder into a hot volume and a cold volume, said hot volume lying between said regenerator and said hot piston, and said cold volume lying between said regenerator and said cold piston;
• at least one exhaust port on said cylinder to permit the flow of exhaust fluid out from said cylinder;
• and
• at least one intake port on said cylinder to permit the flow of fresh working fluid into said cylinder.

A method for operating an internal combustion engine having a fixed regenerator comprising the following steps:

• providing an internal combustion engine comprising:
• at least one cylinder, said cylinder closed at one end by a movable hot piston and closed at the other end by a movable cold piston, and further comprising a thermal regenerator located within said cylinder between said pistons and dividing said cylinder into a hot volume and a cold volume;
• one or more intake ports;
• one or more exhaust ports;
• one or more fuel injectors;
• and
• compressing a working fluid primarily in said cold volume and passing the working fluid from said cold volume to said hot volume through said regenerator;
• injecting fuel into said hot volume, initiating combustion and expanding the combusting fluid in said hot volume;
• transferring a portion of the working fluid to said cold volume through said regenerator;
• expanding said portion of the working fluid in said cold volume while maintaining said hot volume's size nearly constant;
• expelling a portion of the working fluid in said cold volume through said exhaust ports along with the transfer of additional working fluid from said hot volume, through said regenerator, and into said cold volume while maintaining said hot volume's size nearly constant;
• transferring most of the remainder of the working fluid in said hot volume through said regenerator into said cold volume;
• and
• partially exchanging the working fluid via said intake ports and said exhaust ports.

A method for operating an internal combustion engine having a fixed regenerator comprising the following steps:

• providing an internal combustion engine comprising:
• at least one cylinder, said cylinder closed at one end by a movable hot piston and closed at the other end by a movable cold piston, and further comprising a thermal regenerator located within said cylinder between said pistons and dividing said cylinder into a hot volume and a cold volume;
• one or more intake ports;
• one or more exhaust ports;
• one or more fuel injectors;
• and
• compressing a working fluid primarily in said cold volume and passing the working fluid from said cold volume to said hot volume through said regenerator;
• injecting fuel into said hot volume, initiating combustion and expanding the combusting fluid in said hot volume;
• transferring a portion of the working fluid to said cold volume through said regenerator;
• expanding said portion of the working fluid in said cold volume while maintaining said hot volume's size nearly constant;
• transferring most of the remainder of the working fluid in said hot volume through said regenerator into said cold volume;
• and
• opening said exhaust ports;
• opening said intake ports;
• maintaining said hot piston nearly stationary near to its most inward position and maintaining said cold piston near to its most outward position;
• and
• permitting or causing fresh, pressurized working fluid to enter said cylinder through said intake ports and to force the working fluid out of said cylinder through said exhaust ports.

A method for operating an internal combustion engine having a fixed regenerator comprising the following steps:

• providing an internal combustion engine comprising:
• at least one cylinder, said cylinder closed at one end by a movable hot piston and closed at the other end by a movable cold piston, and further comprising a thermal regenerator located within said cylinder between said pistons and dividing said cylinder into a hot volume and a cold volume;
• one or more intake ports;
• one or more exhaust ports;
• one or more fuel injectors;
• and
• compressing a working fluid primarily in said cold volume and passing the working fluid from said cold volume to said hot volume through said regenerator;
• injecting fuel into said hot volume, initiating combustion and expanding the combusting fluid in said hot volume;
• transferring a portion of the working fluid to said cold volume through said regenerator;
• expanding said portion of the working fluid in said cold volume while maintaining said hot volume's size nearly constant;
• expelling a portion of the working fluid in said cold volume through said exhaust ports along with the transfer of additional working fluid from said hot volume, through said regenerator, and into said cold volume while maintaining said hot volume's size nearly constant;
• transferring most of the remainder of the working fluid in said hot volume through said regenerator into said cold volume;
• maintaining or moving said hot piston to its most inward position and maintaining it there;
• closing said exhaust ports;
• and
• moving said cold piston to its most outward position thereby drawing fresh working fluid into the cylinder through said intake ports.

A method for operating an internal combustion engine having a fixed regenerator comprising the following steps:

• providing an internal combustion engine comprising:
• at least one cylinder, said cylinder closed at one end by a movable hot piston and closed at the other end by a movable cold piston, and further comprising a thermal regenerator located within said cylinder between said pistons and dividing said cylinder into a hot volume and a cold volume;
• one or more intake ports;
• one or more exhaust ports;
• one or more fuel injectors;
• and
• compressing a working fluid primarily in said cold volume and passing the working fluid from said cold volume to said hot volume through said regenerator;
• injecting fuel into said hot volume, initiating combustion and expanding the combusting fluid in said hot volume;
• transferring a portion of the working fluid to said cold volume through said regenerator;
• expanding said portion of the working fluid in said cold volume while maintaining said hot volume's size nearly constant;
• expelling a portion of the working fluid in said cold volume through said exhaust ports along with the transfer of additional working fluid from said hot volume, through said regenerator, and into said cold volume while maintaining said hot volume's size nearly constant;
• transferring most of the remainder of the working fluid in said hot volume through said regenerator into said cold volume;
• maintaining or moving said hot piston to its most inward position and maintaining it there;
• moving said cold piston from its most outward position to an inward position, thereby forcing working fluid out of said exhaust ports;
• closing said exhaust ports and opening. said intake ports;
• and
• moving said cold piston to its most outward position thereby drawing fresh working fluid into the cylinder through said intake ports.