Engines and Power Systems developed using the TEC concept will be suitable for a variety of applications, and offer superior performance characteristics over conventional power sources. Unique features of the TEC engine include:

• Compact and Powerful - A power density 5 to 10 times higher than currently available power sources translates to greatly reduced size and weight per unit of power output. This smaller size and weight makes the TEC engine an appealing choice for use in hybrid electric vehicles and portable power applications.

• Fuel Flexible - The TEC engine is powered by an external heat source. Heat input can be provided by fossil fuels, biofuels, solar, nuclear and industrial waste heat. The TEC engine is well-suited to use existing sources of thermal energy such as the exhaust from an open cycle turbine, exhaust from a fuel cell, systems with boilers or concentrated solar energy.

• Increased Fuel Efficiency - The fuel efficiency of a TEC engine is up to 25% higher than conventional power sources. This results in reduced fuel consumption and lower emissions per unit of output power.

• Scalability and Adaptablility - Power output ranges from portable (<0.5kW) to village power (5kW to 100kW) to large units (>100kW). Small TEC engines can be coupled together to handle variable demand loads.

• Lower Emissions - Because fuel is combusted externally, the fuel burner can be optimized to provide ideal combustion conditions for any fuel. This enables more efficient fuel burner designs with very low emission characteristics. Separating fuel combustion from the engine's mechanical workings allows and enhances the ability to use alternative fuels without redesigning the engine for use with different fuels. Fuel combustion can be optimized independently of the TEC engines operation.

• Higher Thermal Efficiency - The enhanced heat transfer characteristics of the active working fluid and unique system configuration enable the high thermal efficiency of the TEC engine.

• Increased Reliability - A turbine system has few moving parts -- all components can be powered from one shaft. The means that the TEC engine can be easier and less expensive to manufacture, and will require less maintenance than conventional generators. Most gas and diesel generators require maintenance about every 6,000 to 8,000 hours or more than once a year.

• Quiet Operation - TEC engines will use well-tested, reliable, current generation turbine technology, and modern high speed turbines are inherently quiet devices. TEC engine noise can be further attenuated by enclosing key elements in an insulated housing.