An engine is disclosed. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the engine comprises a compressor, and
combustor, and an expander. The compressor compresses
ambient air. The
combustor burns the
compressed air, and produces exhaust gasses. The expander receives the exhaust gases from the
combustor, and expands the exhaust gasses. The compressor may be a
gerotor compressor or a
piston compressor having variable-dead-
volume control. The expander may be a
gerotor expander or a
piston expander having variable-dead-
volume control. In another embodiment, an engine comprises a
piston compressor, a combustor, a piston expander, and a pressure tank. The piston compressor compresses
ambient air. The combustor burns the
compressed air, and produces exhaust gasses. The piston expander receives the exhaust gasses from the combustor, and expands the exhaust gasses. The pressure tank receives and stores the
compressed air from the compressor. In another embodiment, a
gerotor compressor or a gerotor expander comprises an inner gerotor, and an outer gerotor. The inner gerotor and the outer gerotor are driven so that they do not touch. The gerotors may be cantilevered or non-cantilevered.