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Various embodiments of a converter for use in a combustion engine having a discharge conduit for discharging exhaust combustion gases are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, the converter may include a heating chamber being in thermal contact with the discharge conduit and defining a hydraulic c

Various embodiments of a converter for use in a combustion engine having a discharge conduit for discharging exhaust combustion gases are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, the converter may include a heating chamber being in thermal contact with the discharge conduit and defining a hydraulic channel through which a fluid passes. The converter may also include an inlet port disposed in the heating chamber for receiving the fluid into the heating chamber, and an outlet port disposed in the heating chamber for discharging the fluid from the heating chamber. The heat energy from the exhaust combustion gases is transferred to the fluid while the fluid passes through the hydraulic channel.

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1. A converter for converting heat energy from exhaust combustion gases generated by a combustion engine, comprising: a heating chamber configured to be in thermal contact with and surrounding a discharge conduit of the combustion engine through which the exhaust combustion gases are discharged, the

1. A converter for converting heat energy from exhaust combustion gases generated by a combustion engine, comprising: a heating chamber configured to be in thermal contact with and surrounding a discharge conduit of the combustion engine through which the exhaust combustion gases are discharged, the heating chamber including two end portions and defining a hydraulic channel through which a fluid passes;an inlet port disposed in a first end portion of the heating chamber for receiving the fluid into the heating chamber;an outlet port disposed in a second end portion of the heating chamber for discharging the fluid from the heating chamber; andan insulation chamber substantially surrounding the heating chamber, the insulation chamber comprising an access valve configured to fill, empty, or vent the insulation chamber,wherein the hydraulic channel is configured so that heat energy from the exhaust combustion gases is transferred to the fluid while the fluid passes through the hydraulic channel. 2. The converter of claim 1, further comprising a surface extension in the heating chamber configured to increase a fluid residence time of the fluid within the hydraulic channel. 3. The converter of claim 2, wherein the surface extension comprises a plurality of fins extending from a surface of the heating chamber that is in thermal contact with the discharge conduit. 4. The converter of claim 2, wherein the surface extension comprises a plurality of structural fins extending along at least a portion of the heating chamber, the structural fins defining the hydraulic channel. 5. The converter of claim 2, wherein the surface extension is configured to extend across an internal surface and an external surface of the heating chamber, the surface extension configured to withstand pressure fluctuation within the heating chamber, the external surface of the heating chamber also configured to serve as an internal surface of the insulation chamber. 6. The converter of claim 1, wherein the heating chamber is configured such that the fluid enters into the heating chamber in a liquid state and exits the heating chamber in a vapor state. 7. The converter of claim 1, wherein the access valve comprises a movable fin. 8. The converter of claim 1, wherein the insulation chamber is configured to maintain a vacuum. 9. The converter of claim 1, wherein the heating chamber comprises a cylindrical body substantially enclosing a portion of the discharge conduit. 10. A method of converting heat energy from a discharge conduit of a combustion engine through which exhaust combustion gases flow comprising: providing a heating chamber in thermal contact with and surrounding the discharge conduit, the heating chamber including two end portions;providing an insulation chamber substantially surrounding the heating chamber, the insulation chamber comprising an access valve configured to at least one of fill, empty, or vent the insulation chamber;injecting a fluid into the heating chamber through an inlet port at a first end portion of the heating chamber, wherein the heat energy from the exhaust combustion gases is transferred to the fluid in the heating chamber; anddischarging the fluid from the heating chamber through an outlet port at a second end portion of the heating chamber. 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising increasing a fluid residence time of the fluid within the heating chamber by directing the fluid to flow along flow channels defined by a surface extension mounted to a surface of the heating chamber. 12. The method of claim 10, further comprising: injecting the fluid into the heating chamber in a liquid state; andheating the fluid within the heating chamber so that the fluid exits the heating chamber in a vapor state. 13. The method of claim 10, further comprising substantially maintaining a vacuum in the insulation chamber. 14. The method of claim 10, further comprising draining condensate of the exhaust combustion gases from the discharge conduit. 15. The method of claim 10, wherein the heating chamber comprises a cylindrical body substantially enclosing a portion of the discharge conduit. 16. A modular converter unit associated with an exhaust conduit of a heat source to extract heat from the exhaust conduit, comprising: a discharge conduit having a first end and a second end, the first end being configured to connect to the exhaust conduit;a joint having a first end and a second end, the first end of the joint being configured to connect to the second end of the discharge conduit, the second end of the joint configured to connect to a discharge conduit of another modular converter unit;a heating chamber configured to be in thermal contact with and surrounding the discharge conduit, the heat chamber including two end portions and defining a hydraulic channel through which a fluid passes;an insulation chamber substantially surrounding the heating chamber, the insulation chamber comprising an access valve configured to fill, empty, or vent the insulation chamber;an inlet port disposed in a first end portion of the heating chamber for receiving the fluid into the heating chamber; andan outlet port disposed in a second end portion of the heating chamber for discharging the fluid from the heating chamber,wherein the hydraulic channel is configured so that heat energy from the exhaust combustion gases flowing through the discharge conduit is transferred to the fluid while the fluid passes through the hydraulic channel of the heating chamber. 17. The modular converter unit of claim 16, wherein the first and second ends of the joint are interchangeable with respect to one another. 18. The modular converter unit of claim 16, wherein the first and second ends of the discharge conduit are interchangeable with respect to one another. 19. The modular converter unit of claim 16, wherein the heating chamber comprises a surface extension configured to increase a fluid residence time of the fluid within the hydraulic channel. 20. The modular converter unit of claim 19, wherein the surface extension comprises a plurality of fins extending from a surface of the heating chamber that is in thermal contact with the discharge conduit. 21. The modular converter unit of claim 19, wherein the surface extension comprises a plurality of structural fins extending along at least a portion of the heating chamber, the structural fins defining the hydraulic channel. 22. The modular converter unit of claim 19, wherein the surface extension is configured to extend across an internal surface and an external surface of the heating chamber, the surface extension is also configured to withstand pressure fluctuation within the heating chamber, the external surface of the heating chamber is also configured to serve as an internal surface of the insulation chamber. 23. The modular converter unit of claim 16, wherein the heating chamber is configured such that the fluid enters into the heating chamber in a liquid state and exits the heating chamber in a vapor state. 24. The modular converter unit of claim 16, wherein the insulation chamber is configured to substantially maintain a vacuum. 25. The modular converter unit of claim 16, further comprising a second joint having a first end connectable to the exhaust conduit of the combustion engine and a second end connected to the first end of the discharge conduit. 26. The modular converter unit of claim 16, wherein the joint comprises a discharge valve for draining condensate of the exhaust combustion gases. 27. A converter system having a plurality of substantially identical modular converter units for converting heat energy from the exhaust combustion gases, the system comprising: a first modular unit comprising: a first discharge conduit having a first end and a second end; anda first heating chamber being in thermal contact with and surrounding the first discharge conduit, the first heating chamber including two end portions and defining a first hydraulic channel through which a first fluid passes;a first inlet port disposed in a first end portion of the first heating chamber for receiving the first fluid into the first heating chamber;a first outlet port disposed in a second end portion of the first heating chamber for discharging the first fluid from the first heating chamber; anda first insulation chamber substantially surrounding the first heating chamber, the first insulation chamber comprising a first access valve configured to fill, empty, or vent the first insulation chamber, wherein the heat energy from the exhaust combustion gases flowing through the first discharge conduit is transferred to the first fluid while the first fluid passes through the first hydraulic channel of the first heating chamber;a second modular unit, comprising: a second discharge conduit having a first end and a second end; anda second heating chamber being in thermal contact with and surrounding the second discharge conduit, the second heating chamber including two end portions and defining a second hydraulic channel through which a second fluid passes;a second inlet port disposed in a first end portion of the second heating chamber for receiving the second fluid into the second heating chamber;a second outlet port disposed in a second end portion of the second heating chamber for discharging the second fluid from the second heating chamber; anda second insulation chamber substantially surrounding the second heating chamber, the second insulation chamber comprising a second access valve configured to fill, empty, or vent the second insulation chamber, wherein the second hydraulic channel is configured so that heat energy from the exhaust combustion gases flowing through the second discharge conduit is transferred to the second fluid while the second fluid passes through the second hydraulic channel of the second heating chamber; anda joint having a first end configured to connect to the second end of the first discharge conduit and a second end configured to connect to the first end of the second discharge conduit. 28. The converter system of claim 27, wherein the first heating chamber comprises a first surface extension configured to increase a fluid residence time of the first fluid within the first hydraulic channel, the first surface extension extending across an internal surface and an external surface of the first heating chamber to withstand pressure fluctuation within the first heating chamber, the first external surface of the first heating chamber also serving as an internal surface of the first insulation chamber. 29. The converter system of claim 27, wherein the second heating chamber comprises a second surface extension configured to increase a fluid residence time of the second fluid within the second hydraulic channel, the second surface extension extending across an internal surface and an external surface of the second heating chamber to withstand pressure fluctuation within the second heating chamber, the second external surface of the second heating chamber also serving as an internal surface of the second insulation chamber.