Supercharged internal combustion engine system

A supercharged internal combustion engine system comprising:

• an internal combustion engine (ICE), a source of high-pressure air, and a supercharger;
• said internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber and an intake passage;
• said intake passage being fluidly coupled to said combustion chamber and configured for flowing intake air thereinto;
• said supercharger comprising a turboexpander and a turbocompressor;
• said turboexpander having a turboexpander inlet fluidly coupled to said source of high-pressure air;
• said turboexpander having a turboexpander outlet fluidly coupled to said intake passage;
• said turbocompressor having a turbocompressor inlet and a turbocompressor outlet;
• said turbocompressor inlet being fluidly coupled to said source of intake air;
• said turbocompressor outlet being fluidly coupled to said intake passage;
• said turboexpander being driven by high-pressure air from said high-pressure air source;
• and
• said turbocompressor being driven by said turboexpander.

An internal combustion engine system comprising:

• an internal combustion engine and a supercharger assembly;
• said supercharger comprising a turbine and a compressor, which are being arranged on a common shaft;
• said turbine being driven by high-pressure air;
• said compressor being configured for compressing intake air and for delivering compressed intake air through an intake duct to said internal combustion engine;
• said turbine exhausting air into said intake duct.

A method for supercharging an internal combustion engine comprising the steps of:

• providing an internal combustion engine (ICE) having a combustion chamber;
• providing a turboexpander having a turbine wheel, a turboexpander inlet port, and a turboexpander outlet port;
• providing an intake air supply;
• providing a high-pressure air supply;
• operating said ICE;
• flowing intake air from said intake air supply to said combustion chamber;
• feeding high-pressure air from said high-pressure air supply into said turboexpander inlet port;
• spinning said turbine wheel;
• expanding said high-pressure air in said turbine wheel;
• removing energy from said high-pressure air;
• flowing expanded air from said turboexpander outlet port;
• mixing said expanded air with said intake air;
• and
• flowing resulting mixed air into said combustion chamber.

A vehicle operated by an internal combustion engine comprising:

• a vehicle, an internal combustion engine, a turboexpander, a compressed air tank, and a compressor;
• said vehicle having a vehicle drive shaft configured for transmitting power from said engine to vehicle wheels;
• said internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber, an intake passage, and an output shaft;
• said intake passage being fluidly coupled to said combustion chamber and configured for flowing intake air thereinto;
• said intake passage being fluidly coupled to a source of intake air;
• said turboexpander having a turboexpander inlet port fluidly coupled to said air tank;
• said turboexpander having a turboexpander outlet port fluidly coupled to said intake passage;
• said compressor configured for compressing ambient air and feeding it to said air tank;
• said compressor being operated by a source of power selected from the group consisting of said output shaft and said vehicle drive shaft.