Abstract:
A machine such as an external combustion engine in an electrical power and heat cogeneration unit comprises multiple cylinders, each driving an independent load or being independently driven, and a balance shaft comprising one or more off-centre balancing mass(es) to counteract rocking motion created by the piston motion and thereby assist in dynamically balancing the machine.
Abstract:
Method and system for efficient energy recovery from heat source with external combustion engine Invention include sequentially operating drive mechanism for power pistons and displacement pistons of gamma type Stirling engine, providing nearly ideal pistons operation sequence. Stirling engine is supplemented with working flow fluid control and separation member between working fluid reheater and rest of the engine during high pressure stage. Working fluid is circulated in flow control via one or more consecutive displacement cylinder / power cylinder stages before reheating. Control system is directing working fluid from inlet port to the first displacement cylinder, further to the first power cylinder and after expansion either to reheating or to the next displacement cylinder. Low temperature working fluid is finally directed back to the counter flow type reheater.
Abstract:
Cette machine Stirling comprend un piston de transfert (6, 6a) et un organe mobile (14) d'un générateur ou d'un moteur électrique, le piston de transfert (6, 6a) déplaçant périodiquement un gaz de travail entre une chambre d'expansion (V E ) et une chambre de compression (V c ), associées respectivement à deux faces de travail du piston de transfert (6, 6a) dont le rapport de section a c /a E est >0,35 pour que son déplacement selon un axe X orienté vers le volume d' expansion (V E ) engendre une composante de pression P x du gaz de travail en phase opposée au déplacement du piston (6, 6a), de manière à transmettre la totalité de l'énergie mécanique produite à l'organe mobile (14). Cette machine comporte un second piston résonant (10) couplé au piston de transfert (6, 6a) par une quantité d'énergie proportionnelle à la composante de pression P x .
Abstract:
Stirling engine which may be used as a heat pump, which consists of a hot half and a cold half. Both halves are connected by two lines which constitute a counterflow heat exahnger or in which a counterflow heat exchanger is mounted. Moreover, a mutual shaft, to which in the hot half a large and a small piston are mounted and to which in the cold half a large and a small piston are mounted, connects both parts. For every up or down going movement of the shaft, a complete Stirling cycle is performed. If desired, the shaft may be replaced by a hydraulic interconnection.
Abstract:
A machine which combines an Alpha-type Stirling cycle thermal machine and a magnetoelectric resonance mechanism adaptable to be useful both as an electric generator and an electric heat pump (Fig. 2). Such a Stirling cycle resonance machine (Fig. 2) has a simplified mechanical arrangement with a minimum number of moving parts within a hermetically sealed and permanently lubricated housing (16), is fully automatic, self-starting, and self-regulating in operation in that the mechanical motion of the pistons (14, 15) is maintained in appropriate phase relationship by an electronic quadrature phase-locking circuit. It can readily use multiple fuels as an electric generator and multiple electric power sources (DC or AC) as an electric heat pump.
Abstract:
A free-piston Stirling engine that limits piston amplitude and reduces engine power as the piston amplitude increases beyond its maximum power. The inward edge of the heat rejecter cylinder port is located outward of the most inward excursion of the inward end of the piston sidewall during a part of the piston's reciprocation cycle so that the heat rejecter cylinder port is entirely covered by the piston sidewall during an inward portion of the piston reciprocation when the engine is operating at the selected maximum engine power. A leaker port extends from a gas bearing cavity through the piston sidewall and is positioned axially outward from the gas bearing pads of the engine's gas bearing system and vents working gas to the engine's back space at a piston amplitude of reciprocation that exceeds the piston's amplitude of reciprocation at maximum engine power. A resilient damping bumper is attached to the outward end of the piston and a displacer gas cushion is disclosed.
Abstract:
A closed cycle heat engine (20) is provided. The heat engine (20) includes first and second expansion pistons (40, 42) that are fluidly coupled to a heater (24). The expansion pistons (40, 42) are also fluidly and operably coupled to a compression piston (32). A regenerator (28) extracts heat from a working fluid flowing from the expansion cylinders (36, 38) to the compression cylinders (34) to preheat the working fluid flowing to the heater (24). A cooler (26) is arranged in between the regenerator (28) and the compression cylinder (34) to remove additional heat before the working fluid reaches the compression cylinder (34). The heat engine (20) is arranged such that the working fluid travels unidirectionally within the engine (20). The heat engine (20) may further include one or more actuated valves (46, 48) for controlling the flow of the working gas. In one embodiment, the pressure of the crankcase (30) is controlled to be at or less than the heat engine (20) minimum pressure.
Abstract:
A closed cycle heat engine (20) is provided. The heat engine (20) includes first and second expansion pistons (40, 42) that are fluidly coupled to a heater (24). The expansion pistons (40, 42) are also fluidly and operably coupled to a compression piston (32). A regenerator (28) extracts heat from a working fluid flowing from the expansion cylinders (36, 38) to the compression cylinders (34) to preheat the working fluid flowing to the heater (24). A cooler (26) is arranged in between the regenerator (28) and the compression cylinder (34) to remove additional heat before the working fluid reaches the compression cylinder (34). The heat engine (20) is arranged such that the working fluid travels unidirectionally within the engine (20). The heat engine (20) may further include one or more actuated valves (46, 48) for controlling the flow of the working gas. In one embodiment, the pressure of the crankcase (30) is controlled to be at or less than the heat engine (20) minimum pressure.
Abstract:
An improved thermal engine (Fig. 1) of the type having a displacer body (24) movable between the hot end (16) and the cold end (20) of a chamber for subjecting a fluid with that chamber to a thermodynamic cycle and having a work piston (26) driven by the fluid for deriving a useful work output. The work piston pumps a hydraulic fluid and a hydraulic control valve (64) is connected in line with the hydraulic output conduit such that the flow of hydraulic fluid may be restricted to any desired degree or stopped altogether. The work piston can therefore be controlled by means of a controller device independently from the movement of the displacer such that a variety of engine cycles can be obtained for optimum engine efficiency under varying load conditions. While a Stirling engine cycle is particularly contemplated, other engine cycles may be obtained by controlling the movement of the displacer and work pistons. Also disclosed are a working gas recovery system for controlling leakage of working gas from the displacer chamber, and a compound work piston arrangement for preventing leakage of hydraulicfluid around the work piston into the displacer chamber.
Abstract:
A free-piston Stirling engine that limits piston amplitude and reduces engine power as the piston amplitude increases beyond its maximum power. The inward edge of the heat rejecter cylinder port is located outward of the most inward excursion of the inward end of the piston sidewall during a part of the piston's reciprocation cycle so that the heat rejecter cylinder port is entirely covered by the piston sidewall during an inward portion of the piston reciprocation when the engine is operating at the selected maximum engine power. A leaker port extends from a gas bearing cavity through the piston sidewall and is positioned axially outward from the gas bearing pads of the engine's gas bearing system and vents working gas to the engine's back space at a piston amplitude of reciprocation that exceeds the piston's amplitude of reciprocation at maximum engine power. A resilient damping bumper is attached to the outward end of the piston and a displacer gas cushion is disclosed.