Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a control device for a Stirling engine capable of preventing or restraining a torque fluctuation greater than a permissible torque fluctuation from occurring in association with discontinuation of a decompression effect.SOLUTION: The Stirling engine 10 includes: a high-temperature-side cylinder 20 and a low-temperature-side cylinder 30; and a decompression valve 71 which brings about the decompression effect of reducing a degree of compression of a working fluid that flows back and forth between the cylinders 20 and 30, by letting out the working fluid that flows back and forth between the cylinders 20 and 30. When the Stirling engine is started, the decompression valve 71 brings about the decompression effect. An ECU 80 is installed in the Stirling engine and controls the decompression valve 71 so that the decompression effect is gradually weakened after the Stirling engine is started. The decompression valve 71 is designed to allow the working fluid to come and go between a working space and a crankcase 120.
Abstract:
PURPOSE:To aim at reducing the operating force of a control lever in a Stirling engine having highest and lowest cycle pressure lines incorporating pressure boosting and reducing valves, respectively, by enabling valve rods in the boosting and reducing pressure valves to be operated by means of the control lever through link levers whose attached positions are devised. CONSTITUTION:A working space 1 in a Stirling engine is coupled with a compressor 3 through check valves 2, 6, and highest and lowest cycle pressure lines 4, 7 incorporating a pressure reducing valve 5 and a pressure boosting valve 8, respectively. A control lever 11 is coupled at its one end with the rod of a piston in a feed-back piston cylinder 10 connected to the downstream side of the pressure boosting valve 8. In this arrangement, an acting point 16 is set between the grip section 14 and the pivot point of the control lever 11. Further, link levers 17, 18 are pivotally journalled to valve rods 12, 13 in the pressure boosting and reducing valves 8, 5 at pivot points 17, 18 along the control lever 11, and fulcrums 21, 22 for the link levers 17, 18 are set between the pivot points 19, 20 and the acting point 16.
Abstract:
PURPOSE:To minimize the starting torque of a Sterling engine by providing a bypass valve between the lowest and the highest pressure lines for opening at the time of engine starting. CONSTITUTION:A bypass valve 25 is provided between the lowest pressure line 13 with an acceleration valve 11 and the highest pressure line 16 with a reduction valve 14. At the time of starting of a Sterling engine 1, when the bypass valve 25 is opened, the gas compression work of an operation space is reduced to minimize the starting torque of the engine. An output take-out mechanism 10 of the Sterline engine 1 is connected to a Freon compressor 20 of a heat pump 19. When the bypass valve 25 and an unloader valve 23 are opened to start a starting motor 18 by a controller 24, the torque of a starting motor 18 is minimized.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a high-efficiency compressed-air energy conservation system.SOLUTION: A compressed-air energy conservation system includes: a reversible mechanism compressing and expanding air; one or more compressed-air storage tanks 6932; a control system; one or more heat exchangers 6932; and, in one aspect, a motor generator 6904. A reversible air compressor 6902 to an expander 6905 compress the air using a mechanical force, and convert energy conserved in the compressed air to a mechanical force. In one aspect, the compressor 6902 to the expander 6905 include one or more stages, and each of the stages is constituted by a pressure vessel partially filled with water or the other liquid. In some aspects, the pressure vessel communicates with one or more cylinder devices and exchange the air and the liquid with the cylinder devices. If the pressure vessel is present, the air can enter and exit a pressure cell and the cylinder devices by an appropriate valve under electrical control.
Abstract:
A compressed-air energy storage system according to embodiments of the present invention comprises a reversible mechanism to compress and expand air, one or more compressed air storage tanks, a control system, one or more heat exchangers, and, in certain embodiments of the invention, a motor-generator. The reversible air compressor-expander uses mechanical power to compress air (when it is acting as a compressor) and converts the energy stored in compressed air to mechanical power (when it is acting as an expander). In certain embodiments, the compressor-expander comprises one or more stages, each stage consisting of pressure vessel (the “pressure cell”) partially filled with water or other liquid. In some embodiments, the pressure vessel communicates with one or more cylinder devices to exchange air and liquid with the cylinder chamber(s) thereof. Suitable valving allows air to enter and leave the pressure cell and cylinder device, if present, under electronic control.
Abstract:
An improved method and system for removing blockage from hydrocarbon transfer conduits (108). An apparatus and methods for cleaning a hydrocarbon transfer conduit is disclosed whereby a laser head (104) is placed in a hydrocarbon transfer conduit to be cleaned and supplied with a laser beam. The laser head applies the laser beam to an area in the hydrocarbon transfer conduit to be cleaned.
Abstract:
Disclosed herein is an apparatus for extracting thermal energy from thermal expansion of a working medium in the apparatus. The apparatus includes a thermal expander, a compressor for compressing the working medium after the expansion, and a force modulation unit connecting the thermal expander to the compressor. The force modulation unit consists of two conversion gears that are connected by a lever system. The lever system can be dynamically controlled so that the non-constant force from thermal expansion is modulated into a substantially constant output force of the apparatus.