1. Field of Invention
The invention relates generally to methods and apparatuses that process fluids or gases and, more specifically, to methods and apparatuses for extracting useful work from gases subsequent to combustion or to methods and apparatuses that move gasses or liquids.
2. Art Background
Processing liquids and gases during the extraction of useful work, such as in an internal combustion engine or while transferring a liquid or a gas from point A to point B, has been the subject of much activity. For example, deriving useful work from the combustion of fuels has been of value to mankind for many years. Internal combustion engines are known in the art and are used in a wide range of devices, such as grass trimmers, automobiles, and large scale earth moving equipment such as trucks, bull dozers, etc.
Many of the current internal combustion engines are based around a reciprocating piston design or a translating rotor. In a reciprocating piston design, a piston travels back and forth in a cylinder moving to and fro, reversing direction at each end of its range of motion within the cylinder. A piston has a finite mass and thus energy is required to change the direction of the piston within the cylinder as the piston travels to and fro. This energy is deducted from the energy developed during the operation of the engine and necessarily reduces the amount of energy available as useful work output of an engine. Energy directed to non-useful work output contributes to the inefficiency of an engine.
Internal combustion engines typically burn fossil fuels and expel products of combustion. Fossil fuels exist in limited quantities and are viewed as non-renewable resources. Society is in general agreement that improved fuel efficiency is a useful and beneficial goal. Since fossil fuels exist in limited supply, the current fuel efficiency of such engines may present a problem. Additionally, the products of combustion are a source of environmental pollution and may also present a problem.
Internal combustion engines also employ valves to interrupt the flow of gas during the various cycles of operation, such as intake and exhaust valves. Thus, gas accelerates and decelerates during the operation of the engine resulting in non-uniform flow. Such non-uniform flow can contribute to engine inefficiency via the inertial effects described above in conjunction with the piston or the translating rotor as well as other effects not discussed herein. Such non-uniform flow may present a problem.
Pumps are known and used in the art to move materials such as viscous materials, fluids, and/or gasses from one location to another. Pumps are made using the reciprocating piston design discussed above. Work input to a pump is required to operate the pump. Therefore, energy inefficiency can result from a reciprocating piston pump design. Similarly, diaphragm pumps employ a moving diaphragm which changes direction continuously, resulting in an expenditure of energy to change the direction of the diaphragm; such inefficiency may present a problem.