Abstract: A device for converting thermal, mechanical and/or electrical energy quantities into other such energy quantities comprises at least one volume (97, 98, 127, 128, 129) comprising a liquid quantity (31, 32, 130, 131, 132, 202) and at least one partial volume (33, 34, 133, 134, 135) with a working medium. The partial volume is bounded by volume delimiting elements and a liquid surface. At least one of the volume delimiting elements or the liquid quantity can change its position relative to other volume delimiting elements or the liquid quantity in such a way as to change the size of the partial volume. The partial volume and the liquid quantity perform a rotational movement so that centrifugal forces act on the liquid quantity.

Abstract: A device includes at least one volume that comprises a liquid quantity of a liquid and a partial volume with a working medium. The device further includes multiple volume limiting elements which limit the at least one volume and which are configured such that one or more passages allow outflow of a maximum of a predetermined partial quantity of the liquid quantity during one or more of a compression period, an expansion period, or a displacement period. The liquid quantity performs a rotation about an axis of rotation. The multiple volume limiting elements are configured to prevent an annular flow of the liquid quantity about the axis of rotation. The at least one volume is changeable in terms of its overall size by displacement of at least one of the volume limiting elements.

Abstract: A thermoelectric converter for converting quantities of heat into electric energy or electric energy into quantities of heat, or quantities of heat of certain temperatures into quantities of heat of certain other temperatures, includes at least two primary volumes connected to each other by at least one connecting element. Each primary volume includes one gas volume that is suited for receiving gas. One or both of the primary volumes include a liquid volume suited for receiving a liquid. The liquid can be coupled thermally to an external heat reservoir, an external source of heat, or an external heat sink. At least one volume-changing element is provided in at least one of the primary volumes for changing the size of the gas volume. A heat transfer element is provided in at least one of the primary volumes, wherein the proportion of the heat transfer element located in the liquid volume is variable.

Abstract: A thermoelectric converter includes one or more thermoelectric converter modules. A thermoelectric converter module includes spatially delimited gas volumes interconnected by a regenerator in a gas-permeable manner. During operation of the thermoelectric converter, a first gas volume warmer than the ambient temperature or a fluid flow is heated, and a second gas volume is cooler than the first gas volume. A fluid flow is thermally coupled with the second gas volume to dissipate heat. A volume change element suited to change the size of one or more of the gas volumes can be moved or deformed by an electromagnetic component by creating a magnetic field such that the size of at least one of the gas volumes is changed.