Regenerative intensifier and associated systems and methods

An internal combustion engine, comprising:

• a combustion chamber;
• a fuel injector disposed in the combustion chamber;
• an exhaust valve in fluid communication with the combustion chamber;
• a pressure tank in fluid communication with the combustion chamber;
• a four way valve connected between the pressure tank, an intensifier and the combustion chamber via the fuel injector and exhaust valve, wherein the four way valve is operatively coupled with the fuel injector and operative to control a fluid flow between the pressure tank, intensifier and the combustion chamber;
• and
• wherein the intensifier is in fluid communication with the combustion chamber, including:
• an intensifier piston disposed in a corresponding intensifier chamber having an associated intensifier chamber inlet and outlet;
• and
• a drive piston connected to the intensifier piston and disposed in a corresponding drive chamber having an associated drive chamber inlet connected between the four way valve and pressure tank.

A method of intensifying the pressure of a fluid using an internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber, the method comprising:

• supplying the fluid from a supply source to an intensifier including a drive piston operative to act on an intensifier piston;
• pressurizing a working fluid in the combustion chamber;
• conveying the pressurized working fluid directly from the combustion chamber to the drive piston wherein the working fluid moves the drive piston and intensifier piston, whereby the intensifier piston intensifies the pressure of the fluid;
• closing intake and exhaust valves in fluid communication with the combustion chamber;
• and
• opening a flow director valve of a fuel injector in fluid communication with the combustion chamber to allow selected gases to be delivered to the supply source, wherein the supply source is a storage tank.