Thermodynamic cycle

A method of operating a thermodynamic apparatus configured as a heat engine or heat pump. The apparatus comprises in flow series a first heat exchanger 106, an expansion sub-chamber 102, and a second heat exchanger 108. The method includes transferring fluid from the first heat exchanger to the second heat exchanger via the expansion sub-chamber by admitting a fluid flow at an intake pressure from the first heat exchanger into the expansion sub-chamber by increasing the volume of the expansion sub-chamber; fluidically isolating the fluid within the expansion sub-chamber from the first heat exchanger; expanding the fluid within the expansion sub-chamber by further increasing the volume of the expansion sub-chamber to reduce the pressure of the fluid from the intake pressure; fluidically coupling the expansion sub-chamber to the second heat exchanger; and transferring fluid out of the expansion sub-chamber to the second heat exchanger by reducing the volume of the expansion sub-chamber. The ...

Thermodynamic cycle

Fluid compression apparatus

A fluid compression apparatus 10, such as for an internal combustion engine or a fluid pump, where the apparatus comprises a shaft 18 defining and rotatable about a first rotational axis 30 and further comprises an axle 20 defining a second rotational axis 32 with the shaft extending through the axle. There is also provided a piston member 22 on the shaft, the piston member extending from the axle towards a distal end of the shaft. A rotor 16 is carried on the axle and comprises a compression chamber 34 with an opening, where the piston member extends from the axle across the compression chamber towards the opening. The rotor is rotatable with the shaft around the first rotational axis and the rotor is pivotable about the axle about the second rotational axis. Relative pivoting motion between the rotor and the first piston member as the rotor rotates about the first rotational axis acts to compress fluid within the first compression chamber.