Patent ID: 8037852

Claim:
A method of operating an internal combustion engine including at least a first piston slidably disposed in a first cylinder having a first and a second closed end; and a first converter operable with the first piston, the first converter being configured to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy, the first converter being further configured to convert electrical energy into mechanical energy, the method comprising: a) introducing a first quantity of reactant into the first closed end of the first cylinder; b) applying electrical energy to the first converter to slide the first piston in the first cylinder toward the first closed end; c) reacting the introduced first quantity of reactant while holding the first piston substantially still during the reaction, thereby inducing movement of the first piston toward the second closed end; d) converting mechanical energy of the first piston to electrical energy via the converter as the first piston moves toward the second closed end; e) introducing a second quantity of reactant into the second closed end of the first cylinder; f) applying electrical energy to the first converter to slide the first piston in the first cylinder toward the second closed end; g) reacting the introduced second quantity of reactant, thereby inducing movement of the first piston toward the first closed end; and h) converting mechanical energy of the first piston to electrical energy via the first converter as the first piston moves toward the first closed end.