nGen Systems Advantages

Compressed air is the energy carrier and energy storage medium. The low cost mechanical power available at the crankshaft enables compressing air at times of lower power demand as a very cost effective form of energy storage (system shown below).
Air is stored, typically at 300 bar, underground or in composite cylinders and delivered back to the nGen systems at 5 to 30 bar.

Multi-fuel highly flexible systems. Because the primary energy input takes place outside the mechanical power device, a wide variety of heat sources can be used with the same nGen system, enabling cost optimisation to adapt to the evolving prices of various fuels and transitioning to renewable fuels and other solar energy sources:

Suitable automotive fuels include fossil fuels such as gasoline, diesel, compressed natural gas (CNG), LPG, but also heating oils, kerosene, etc.; and renewable fuels such as ethanol, coconut oil, rapeseed oil, tallow processed into bio diesel, etc. The fuels do not have to be processed at considerable cost into bio diesel and residual amounts of water are not an issue.

For stationary applications, those same fuels can be used and/or supplemented with solar power, gasified biomass, biogas, wood chips or wood waste and other renewable resources.

Waste heat recycling and cooling options. A series of heat exchangers can be used to enable the recycling of waste heat from the heater for space heating, drying, or hot water supply services. The expansion of the compressed air or other gases can be optionally used for cooling purposes – hence air conditioning services. The availability of low cost mechanical power and high-pressure energy storage enables point-of-use low cost grey water recycling (using reverse osmosis units).

High efficiencies. Depending of the specific configurations and operating temperatures in the heater, mechanical and electrical efficiencies over 45% and up to close to 80% can be achieved. Overall efficiencies range from above 45% for transport applications to over 90% for stationary ones.

Low Maintenance. Because the precision mechanical components and the lubricants are not exposed to corrosive combustion products or process fluids, only air, the nGen systems require significantly less maintenance than internal-combustion or turbine systems.

High flexibility of use. The nGen systems can be used in a number of ways in stationary applications and for transport applications, typically for retrofitting existing vehicles – similar or improved driving performance, substantially reduced fuel consumption and freedom of fuel use. Transport applications are intended to expand to new classes of land vehicles, as well as marine and aircrafts.

Beside their inherent ecological advantages, the main benefits of the nGen systems are substantial gains in efficiency that translate into considerable capital, operating and maintenance cost improvements.