A method is disclosed for storage of energy produced at a conventional power station and release of said energy when subsequently required. The method comprises using the energy to refrigerate and liquefy atmospheric nitrogen and oxygen, storing the liquid gases at substantially below atmospheric temperature and subsequently using cold liquid gas, in combination with a source of heat at or above atmospheric temperature, to drive a closed cycle heat engine and yield mechanical energy. Auxiliary open and closed cycle heat engines are added to yield further mechanical energy and so utilize the full energy potential of the cold liquid gases.

A cryogenic powered vehicle is disclosed which utilizes liquid nitrogen contained in a storage tank or tanks and communicated with a plurality of expansion assemblies through a one-way flow valve with the pressurized expanded gas being discharged to atmosphere through a turbine structure which is drivingly connected to the driving wheels of a vehicle through a suitable transmission and other conventional drive components. The expansion assemblies include heat exchange devices in the form of serpentine tubes having heat exchange fins thereon with one of the expansion assemblies being in the form of a heat exchange coil associated with the air conditioning system of an automobile or the load cooling system of a load carrying vehicle. One of the expansion assemblies is located adjacent the inlet of a turbine and is in the form of a master expander coil to discharge pressurized gas into a rotary vane type turbine to produce a rotational output that is drivingly connected to the drive train of a vehicle.

An integrated chassis and compressed gaseous fuel system of an automotive vehicle provide long-range fuel capacity for the automotive vehicle. The chassis is a support structure defining at least one cavity in which a respective tank of compressed gaseous fuel is accommodated. By so designing the chassis to specifically accommodate a discrete tank(s) of compressed gaseous fuel, a much larger volume of fuel can be stored in the vehicle than in the case where existing storage space, such as trunk space, in a conventional automobile is used to store the compressed gaseous fuel. Accordingly, the present invention greatly increases the range of automotive vehicles powered by compressed gaseous fuel.

A vehicle with drive apparatus having a liquid nitrogen driven engine for primary power coupled with a liquid nitrogen driven fly wheel for acceleration and power consumption. The drive apparatus includes a fuel tank for containing liquid nitrogen. A heating device converts the liquid nitrogen to nitrogen gas to be held in a plenum tank. There is mechanism for directing the nitrogen gas from the plenum tank to the turbine engine, the fly wheel and/or the alternator. The alternator is turbine driven and charges a battery which powers control mechanism for the drive apparatus.

The invention disclosed herein relates to an improved method and apparatus for extracting useful energy from the superheated vapor of a working fluid by a vapor actuated power generating device. The apparatus utilized includes a high pressure vessel which receives a superheated vapor and contains one or more positive displacement piston and cylinder assemblies connected to a rotational output shaft with the top face of each piston directly connected to a larger piston and cylinder assembly which operates at lower pressure and is contained within one of the low pressure sections of the apparatus which also serves as the condenser. The low pressure piston is axially connected to an injector piston and cylinder assembly also located within the same low pressure section which transfers liquefied working fluid to heat absorption cells for acquiring sufficient heat to vaporize and superheat the working fluid for recycling.