Abstract:
Aircraft with an emission-free drive and method for emission-free driving of an aircraft. The aircraft includes a drive device structured and arranged to generate thrust, a lift device structured and arranged to generate lift, and a heat engine structured and arranged to convert thermal energy into kinetic energy to drive the drive device. The heat engine includes at least one flat-plate Stirling engine drivable by solar thermal radiation.
Abstract:
A heat exchanger and associated method are provided that may eliminate or reduce the need for an external mechanical or electrical power source to drive the fan by utilization, instead, of a Stirling engine. A heat exchanger includes a plurality of coils configured to carry a primary fluid. The heat exchanger also includes a fan including a plurality of fan blades configured to force a secondary fluid across the plurality of coils to facilitate heat transfer between the primary and secondary fluids. The heat exchanger also includes a Stirling engine operably connected to the fan and configured to cause rotation of the fan blades. A corresponding method is also provided.
Abstract:
The invention relates to an artificial turf, comprising: a carrier, and a number of artificial grass fibres connected to the carrier and extending therefrom; wherein the artificial turf comprises heat-conducting means for conducting heat absorbed by the artificial turf. The invention also relates to a system for generating electrical energy from heat comprising such an artificial turf, and to a building comprising such a system.
Abstract:
In a case of performing a static pressure gas lubrication by a stirling engine provided with a pair of cylinders of a high-temperature-side cylinder 20 and a low-temperature-side cylinder 30, a stirling engine gas lubrication structure is provided with an introduction pipe 70A for introducing a working fluid existing within a low-temperature working space into at least an inside of an expansion piston 21 of the expansion piston 21 and a compression piston 31, the low-temperature working space being included in a working space where the working fluid circulates between the cylinders 20 and 30, a temperature of the working fluid in the low-temperature working space lower than that of the working fluid in a working space of a high-temperature side cylinder 22 in a driving state.
Abstract:
An external-combustion, closed-cycle thermal engine is provided with: a gas chamber, a heater, and a cooler which are closed; flow paths for connecting the gas chamber and the inlet and outlet sides of the heater; flow paths for connecting the gas chamber and the inlet and outlet sides of the cooler; on-off valves respectively provided to the flow paths on the inlet and outlet sides of the heater and of the cooler; and a means for moving a working gas. The switching of the destination of the working gas between the heater and the cooler is performed by the on-off valves, and an operation body is driven. As a result of the configuration, the volume of the heater or the cooler does not affect the efficiency of the engine, and the engine operates under various conditions.
Abstract:
This Stirling machine comprises a transfer piston (6, 6a) and a moving part (14) of a generator or of an electric motor, the transfer piston (6, 6a) periodically displacing a working gas between an expansion chamber (VE) and a compression chamber (Vc) which chambers are respectively associated with two working faces of the transfer piston (6, 6a) of which the cross-sectional area ratio ac/aE is >0.35 so that its displacement along an axis X oriented towards the expansion volume (VE) generates an in-phase working gas pressure component Px that opposes the displacement of the piston (6, 6a), so that all of the mechanical energy produced is transmitted to the moving part (14). This machine comprises a resonant second piston (10) coupled to the transfer piston (6, 6a) by a quantity of energy that is proportional to the pressure component Px.
Abstract:
Systems, methods, and apparatus relating to the use of Stirling engine technology to convert heat, such as from solar radiation, to mechanical work or electricity. Apparatus, systems, components, and methods relating to energy converting apparatus are described herein. In one aspect, the invention relates to the field alignment of panels and the assembly of a concentrator. In another aspect, a passive balancer is used in combination with a ring frame and other moving masses to reduce engine forces and vibration on the structure of the energy converting apparatus while maintaining properly constrained alignment of various suspended masses. In yet another aspect, the invention relates to various over-insolation control and management strategy to prevent overheating of the energy converting apparatus or components and subsystems thereof.
Abstract:
The apparatus includes a housing, a compression chamber disposed in the housing and having at least a first interface operable to vary a volume of the compression chamber, an expansion chamber disposed in the housing and having a second interface operable to vary a volume of at least the expansion chamber, and a thermal regenerator in fluid communication with each of the compression chamber and the expansion chamber. The thermal regenerator is operable to alternatively receive thermal energy from gas flowing in a first direction through the regenerator and to deliver the thermal energy to gas flowing in a direction opposite to the first direction through the regenerator. The compression chamber, the expansion chamber, and the regenerator together define a working volume for containing a pressurized working gas. Each of the first and second interfaces are configured for reciprocating motion in a direction aligned with a transducer axis, the reciprocating motion being operable to cause a periodic exchange of working gas between the expansion and the compression chambers. In one aspect, at least one of the first and second interfaces includes a resilient diaphragm, and a cylindrical tube spring coupled between the diaphragm and the housing, the tube spring being configured to elastically deform in a direction generally aligned with the transducer axis in response to forces imparted on the tube spring by the diaphragm to cause the at least one of the first and second interfaces to have a desired natural frequency. In another aspect the apparatus includes a first heat exchanger in communication with the expansion chamber, a second heat exchanger in communication with the compression chamber, the thermal regenerator is disposed between the first and second heat exchangers, and each of the first and second heat exchangers are peripherally disposed within the housing with respect to the transducer axis and configured to receive working gas flowing to or from the respective chambers and to redirect the working gas flow through the regenerator.
Abstract:
A free piston Stirling machine including a thermal buffer tube extending from the machine's expansion space and surrounded by its heat rejector and its regenerator, a displacer cylinder extending from the thermal buffer tube to the compression space and surrounded by the heat rejecting heat exchanger, and a displacer that reciprocates within an excursion limit that extends into the regenerator by no more than 20% of the length of the regenerator during normal operation and preferably within excursion limits that are substantially the length of the heat rejector.
Abstract:
A method to store energy, the method comprising: (b) providing a phase change material, having a melting point of at least 500° C., in a container; (c) heating the phase change material to cause at least a portion thereof to melt and so store heat therein; (d) storing the phase change material for a period of time being at least one minute; (e) using at least a portion of heat from the phase change material as a power source; (e) moving the container and the phase change material from a first location to a second location, the first and second locations being spaced apart by at least 10 metres. Embodiments of the invention may be used for a variety of purposes, such as for vehicle propulsion, oil well stimulation and recovery of crude oil from sunken tankers. A vehicle may be moved to a location proximate to where the power source is required which is more convenient and indeed allows steam to be supplied in areas which where hitherto not possible. For certain embodiments the power source produced is used to propel a vehicle comprising the power source. Certain embodiments use a Stirling engine whilst others generate a steam source. In preferred embodiments steam is recovered after use as the power source and preferably reheated as per step (e).