Abstract: Burning stove (1) combined with a Stirling engine (2) for producing electricity or to be coupled to a heat pump where the heater of said Stirling engine (3) is placed inside the stove (1), that comprises t o or more burners (4) arranged on the same plan and that the axis of the heater (3) of the Stirling engine (2) passes through the barycenter of said t O or more burners (4). The stove can be advantageously a pellet stove with one or more heat exchangers (8).

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: A linear, multi-cylinder Stirling cycle machine comprises a plurality of Stirling cycle units arranged in an open series or closed loop. Each of the units comprises a compression space in fluid communication with an expansion space via a regenerative heat exchange assembly. The compression space and expansion space are in fluid communication with, respectively, a compression piston and an expansion piston, and the separate Stirling cycle units are mechanically coupled together by linear power transmitters, which connect the expansion piston of one unit to the compression unit of the other. The linear power transmitters can be linear transducers such as linear motors or generators. In the open series arrangement the series of Stirling cycle units can have an initiating compressor at one end and a terminating expander at the other end. hi the closed loop arrangement, one of the Stirling cycle units can include an exergy throttle to restrict gas flow rates to control the speed of the machine.

Abstract: A double acting, miller cycle, reciprocating piston with dual rotary displacer, stirling engine is provided. Configurable as a heat pump, a heat engine, or as a combination with one side driving the other, the engine is completely enclosed, sealed and pressurized with the piston ring as the only internal seal. A miller cycle is created by allowing transfer of the working fluid (typically hydrogen gas) past the piston to balance working fluid pressure only at the extremes of the piston stroke. Two coordinated rotating displacers service opposite sides of one piston. Each displacer manages heat flow, according to its length and shape, through one side of the length of its encasing tube into and out of the working fluid through the other side of the length of its encasing tube. The dead space between the piston and the displacer holds regenerator material.

Abstract: A stirling engine 10A includes: cylinders 22 and 32; pistons 21 and 31, gas lubrication being performed between the corresponding cylinders 22 and 32 and the pistons 21 and 31; a crankcase 62 that is provided with a crankshaft 61 converting a reciprocating movement of the pistons 21 and 31 into a rotational movement; and a cooler 45 that cools a working fluid performing expansion work, wherein a start timing is adjusted based on an internal humidity of the crankcase 62.

Abstract: A heat engine includes four groups of cylinder assemblies and a transmission output mechanism. The transmission output mechanism includes a rocker-arm shaft support, a crankshaft support, a first rocker-arm assembly, a second rocker-arm assembly, and a crankshaft rotatablely installed on the crankshaft support. A crankshaft long-arm connecting rod and a crankshaft short-arm connecting rod are hinged on the crankshaft. The first rocker-arm assembly includes a first straight shaft, a first long arm and a second long arm, and a first hinged part is arranged on the second long arm to hinge with the crankshaft long-arm connecting rod. The second rocket-arm assembly includes a second straight shaft, a third long arm and a fourth long arm and a short arm. A second hinged part is arranged on the short arm to hinge with the crankshaft short-arm connecting rod. The crankshaft long-arm connecting rod is parallel with the short arm and the crankshaft short-arm connecting rod is parallel with the second long arm.

Abstract: An exhaust gas manifold having thermoelectric devices in the exhaust manifold of a stirling engine is disclosed.

Abstract: Heat engines perform a thermodynamic cycle, making use of working fluid which increases pressure and/or volume in response to temperature, resulting in the transformation of heat into useful work. The present invention makes use of a particular type of working fluid that undergoes one or more reversible chemical reactions in response to an increase in temperature, to increase the molar quantity of fluid, producing more useful work and higher thermal efficiency than similar, conventional engines. One embodiment takes the form of a Stirling engine, with a regenerative heat exchange process which recovers most of the energy required to cause the chemical dissociation, ensuring efficiency gain. A method for selecting the working fluid, useful temperature ranges for the engine, and other operating parameters is also claimed. Other types of embodiments may take the form of turbine engines, with one embodiment being a turbine engine that approximates an Ericsson cycle.

Abstract: An apparatus for harnessing solar energy that generates heat from solar radiation, which can be used in various applications. The apparatus for harnessing solar energy comprises a telescope reflector that projects a collimated beam towards a heat accumulator, wherein heat may be generated and used or stored for later use.

Abstract: A piston rod seal unit. The piston rod seal unit includes a housing, a cylinder gland, and at least one floating rod seal assembly mounted in the cylinder gland, the floating rod seal assembly comprising at least one rod seal mounted onto the floating rod seal assembly.

Abstract: A Stirling cycle machine. The machine includes at least one rocking drive mechanism which includes: a rocking beam having a rocker pivot, at least one cylinder and at least one piston. The piston is housed within a respective cylinder and is capable of substantially linearly reciprocating within the respective cylinder. Also, the drive mechanism includes at least one coupling assembly having a proximal end and a distal end. The linear motion of the piston is converted to rotary motion of the rocking beam. Also, a crankcase housing the rocking beam and housing a first portion of the coupling assembly is included. The machine also includes a working space housing the at least one cylinder, the at least one piston and a second portion of the coupling assembly. An airlock is included between the workspace and the crankcase and a seal is included for sealing the workspace from the airlock and crankcase.

Abstract: An exhaust aftertreatment system for treating an exhaust gas feedstream of an internal combustion engine includes a catalytic converter, a fluidic circuit and a Stirling engine. The Stirling engine is configured to transform thermal energy from a working fluid heat exchanger to mechanical power that is transferable to an electric motor/generator to generate electric power. The Stirling engine is configured to transform mechanical power from the electric motor/generator to thermal energy transferable to the working fluid heat exchanger.

Abstract: A free-piston Stirling machine drivingly coupled to at least one rotary electromagnetic transducer. At least one pulley is oriented in a plane of a reciprocating piston connecting rod. At least one motion translating drive link connects the connecting rod to the pulley by at least two straps so that the pulley moves in rotationally oscillating motion. The two straps extend along an arcuate surface of the pulley into connection to the piston rod at two spaced locations. The pulley is linked to a rotary electromagnetic transducer so that both move in rotationally oscillating motion. Preferably a piston spring resonates the piston at an operating frequency of the Stirling machine and a torsion spring resonates the pulley in rotational oscillation at the operating frequency of the Stirling machine.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for collecting and converting solar energy into electrical energy. The present invention includes solar collectors that concentrate solar energy and mechanisms for transporting and transferring the concentrated solar energy directly into closed cycle thermodynamic engines without heating the outside surface of the engines. Additionally, the present invention includes multiple thermodynamic engines and mechanisms to direct solar energy into each of the thermodynamic engines to increase overall system efficiency by maximizing the use of collected solar energy. Advantageously, the delivery system of the present invention avoids heating an outside surface of the engine as is done in conventional designs, provides a closed design to protect the collectors, and maximizes efficiency through multiple engines.

Abstract: An improved free piston Stirling machine having a gamma configuration. The displacer and each piston is reciprocatable within a cylinder having an unobstructed opening at its inner end into a common volume of the workspace. The common volume is defined by the intersection of inward projections of the displacer cylinder and the piston cylinders. The displacer and the pistons each have a range of reciprocation that extends into the common volume. A displacer drive rod is reciprocatable in a drive rod cylinder and both are positioned outside the common volume and on the opposite side of the common volume from the displacer. The displacer is connected to the displacer drive rod by a displacer connecting rod. Importantly, the displacer and pistons have complementary interfacing surface contours formed on their inner ends which substantially reduces the dead volume of this gamma configured machine.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a method for efficiently converting heat energy to readily usable energy with maximized thermal efficiency. Maximized thermal efficiency is obtained by the use of heat regeneration and working gas processing steps that optimize the heat regeneration, so that any heat that is supplied to the working gas from the external heat source is supplied at the maximum temperature, and any heat that is rejected from the working gas to an external heat sinks is rejected at the minimum temperature, given the constraints of the the heat source and heat sink temperatures. Two basic designs of engines are proposed. One of the basic designs uses pairs of heat regenerators, and would be suitable for stationary power generation applications. The other basic design uses single heat regenerators and would be suited for motive power applications. Both piston cylinder and turbocompressor driven engine applications can be used in each of the two basic designs of engines.

Abstract: A heat engine includes: a high-temperature space portion and a low-temperature space portion, each of which has a working gas with a different temperature range from each other; a regenerator provided between both of the space portions; a first piston configured to cause volumetric changes of the working gases in the space portions and transmit motive energy on receipt of pressure changes of the working gases; and a second piston and a third piston configured to transfer the working gases between both of the space portions and move with a 180° phase difference from each other with respect to the regenerator. The second piston is slidably housed in a cylinder portion included in the first piston. Heat and motive energy are exchanged by using the volumetric changes in both of the space portions, as well as by using the transfer of the working gases.

Abstract: A Stirling engine with internal regenerator and integral geometry for heat transfer and fluid flow has a displacer piston with a plurality of cavities that traverse through the displacer piston and are arranged in a specific cross sectional geometry. A heater head has heater fin protrusions that are also arranged in the specific cross sectional geometry, and a cooling bridge has cooler fin protrusions that are also arranged in the specific cross sectional geometry. The displacer piston alternates between the heater head and the cooling bridge, with the cavities of the piston alternately enveloping the heater protrusions and the cooling protrusions, providing more efficient heat transfer to and from the working fluid. Each cavity in the displacer also contains a regenerator core, further improving heat transfer efficiency.

Abstract: Provided is a rotating energy conversion device that includes a heat absorber having a working fluid therein, a power converter in fluid communication with the heat absorber, and a heat rejecter in fluid communication with each one of the heat absorber and the power converter. The device may utilize an energy source that provides radiant energy to the heat absorber. The device may utilize a segmented energy source that may have a plurality of segments, wherein each segment may be either activated or deactivated to deliver the radiant energy to the heat absorber. The device may utilize waste heat produced by the device to create additional work. Furthermore, the device may utilize multiple thermodynamic cycles.

Abstract: A bearing support system for a piston and its connecting rod in which the bearing system supports the combined piston and connecting rod by only two bearings, a gas bearing at the piston and a radially acting spring bearing at its connecting rod. A non-compliant connecting rod is fixed to an end of a piston which has a clearance seal length in the range of 0.3 times the diameter of the piston and 1.5 times the diameter of the piston. The distance from the gas bearing to the effective point of connection of the radially acting spring bearing to the connecting rod is greater than the seal length of the piston. The piston and connecting rod unit is not supported by additional bearings that introduce additional alignment problems.

Abstract: Methods for assembling a reciprocating body, such as a piston, within a bore using a design are described. The piston is substantially centered within the bore and then connected at one end through a rotational coupling to a substantially laterally fixed structure connected to the bore such that during normal operation the piston can rotate within the bore along the bore axis of symmetry but can no longer move laterally. Before fixing the rotational coupling, the piston is connected to an external gas source and substantially aligned along the bore axis of symmetry by a gas bearing having one or more gas bearing ports disposed toward the bore. During normal operation, the gas bearing provides a rotational force sufficient to realize a non-frictional bearing between the piston and the bore.

Abstract: In various embodiments, efficiency of energy storage and recovery systems compressing and expanding gas is improved via heat exchange between the gas and a heat-transfer fluid.

Abstract: A working gas control system for a double acting type Stirling engine having two or more piston assemblies reciprocating within bores. Each of the piston assemblies separate isolated cycle volumes of a working gas which undergoes cyclical pressure variations. The pressure equalization system includes forming isolated first and second volumes with the first volume maintained at a low pressure through the use of a check valve. The second volume is maintained at a pressure intermediate of the minimum and maximum pressures of the cycle volumes. By providing controlled leakage paths between the volumes, the mass or volume of working gas in each of the cycle volumes can be maintained in a balanced condition despite minor leakages outside the engine of the working gas and leakage past the piston assemblies separating the cycle volumes.

Abstract: A system is provided for producing mechanical energy. The system may include a solar collector configured to receive solar energy and an external heater configured to provide secondary thermal energy. Furthermore, the system may include an engine disposed in communication with the solar collector and the external heater. To this end, the engine may be operable to receive the solar energy from the solar collector, receive the secondary thermal energy from the external heater, and convert the solar energy and the secondary thermal energy to mechanical energy. Additionally, the system may include a controller in communication with the solar collector, the engine, and the external heater. The controller may be configured to control an amount of solar energy and an amount of secondary thermal energy received by the engine.

Abstract: A power unit for power generation or transportation. The power unit comprises a barrel cam defining first and second planes and a substantially cylindrical body between the first and second planes. Combustion pistons coupled to the barrel cam and longitudinally disposed relative to the barrel cam so that the combustion pistons longitudinally traverse through the first plane during actuation. First Stirling pistons coupled to the barrel cam and longitudinally disposed relative to the barrel cam so that the first Stirling pistons longitudinally traverse through the first plane during actuation. Second Stirling pistons coupled to the barrel cam and longitudinally disposed relative to the barrel cam so that the second Stirling pistons longitudinally traverse through the second plane during actuation, where at least one of the pistons is coupled to the barrel cam so that the barrel cam rotates during actuation of the pistons.

Abstract: A heating and cooling device includes a cylinder having a chamber for receiving a gas. A guiding groove is defined in an inner periphery of the chamber. A piston assembly is movably received in the chamber of the cylinder. The piston assembly includes first and second pistons and a connecting rod connected to the first and second pistons. The first piston is mounted to a side of the second piston and rotatable relative to the connecting rod. Each of the first and second pistons includes a plurality of openings. A guiding block is formed on an outer periphery of the first piston and is slideably received in the guiding groove.

Abstract: A thermoacoustic engine includes a first looped pipe provided with a motor configured to convert thermal energy into acoustic energy, a second looped pipe provided with a receiver configured to convert the acoustic energy converted by the motor into thermal energy, and a connecting straight pipe interconnecting the first and second looped. A loop length between one end and an opposite end of the second looped pipe is set to L, the one end and the opposite end being connected with the connecting straight pipe such that acoustic energy is transmitted from the one end to the opposite end. The receiver is disposed within the second looped pipe in a region separated from the one end toward the opposite end by L×(0.6-1).

Abstract: A thermoacoustic engine includes first and second stacks disposed in parallel in a looped tube and a heat storage unit disposed in the looped tube. A circuit length between a center of the first stack and a center of the heat storage unit is equal to a circuit length between a center of the second stack and the center of the heat storage unit. A first acoustic circuit including the first stack and the heat storage unit has a circuit length which is equal to a circuit length of a second acoustic circuit including the second stack and the heat storage unit.

Abstract: A thermodynamic engine is configured to convert heat provided in the form of a temperature difference to a nonheat form of energy. Heat is directed through a heating loop in thermal contact with a first side of the thermodynamic engine. A second side of the thermodynamic engine is coupled to an environmental cooling loop in thermal contact with an environmental cooling device. The thermodynamic engine is operated to dispense heat from the second side of the thermodynamic engine through the environmental cooling loop into the environmental cooling device. Operation of the thermodynamic engine thereby generates the nonheat form of energy from the temperature difference established between the first side and the second side of the thermodynamic engine.

Abstract: An engine with an active chamber, having at least one piston (2) mounted in a cylinder (1) in a sliding manner and driving a crankshaft (5) via a slider-crank device (3, 4) and operating according to a four-phase thermodynamic cycle includes: an isothermal expansion without work; a transfer-slight so-called quasi-isothermal expansion with work; a polytropic expansion with work; and an exhaust at ambient pressure, preferentially supplied by compressed air contained in a high-pressure storage tank (12), through a buffer capacity, called a working capacity (11), which is expanded at an average pressure, called a working pressure, in a working capacity (11), preferentially through a dynamic pressure-reducing device (13), wherein the active chamber is included in the engine cylinder, the cylinder volume being swept by the piston and divided into two separate parts, a first part forming the active chamber and a second part forming the expansion chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed is an energy retriever system and methods for absorbing energy and using that energy elsewhere or converting it to other useful forms of energy or work. The energy retriever system consists of a series of components interconnected by a plurality of conduits containing a fluid. Working as a self-contained thermodynamic system, the energy retriever system allows the fluid to circulate through all of these elements. Heat added to the energy capture subsystem heats the fluid. The fluid becomes more pressurized and moves into the expansion cycle subsystem. The energy extraction subsystem transforms the thermal energy of the fluid into work, kinetic energy or thermal energy. The reservoir subsystem compresses the fluid and reintroduces it into the energy capture subsystem. One-way valves are used throughout the system to keep the flow of the fluid in one direction and separate sections of the system that contain different pressures.

Abstract: A system for distributed utilities including electrical power and water. A generation device is provided for converting an available resource to a desired utility; the resource may be water, in which case the generator is a purifier for purifying untreated water, or, alternatively, the generator may convert a fuel to electrical power. In either case, an input sensor is provided for measuring input to the generation device, while an output sensor is provided for measuring consumption of output from the generation device. The monitoring system has a controller for concatenating measured input and consumption of output on the basis of the input and output sensors. Measured parameters are telemetered to a remote site where utility generation and use are monitored and may also be controlled.

Abstract: An in-built energy conservation device has been described for offshore turbines. The energy conservation device includes a heat engine and a generator. The heat engine extracts a portion of heat energy from a coolant flowing the through the wind turbine. The heat engine further converts the heat energy into the mechanical energy. The generator converts the mechanical energy into the electrical energy. The electrical energy is further used for the operation of at least one of a heat exchanger unit and an air treatment plant present in the offshore wind turbine. The energy conservation device further includes an inlet. The inlet allows the passage of treated air through the energy conservation device for thermal conditioning of the treated air. The thermal conditioning makes up for the thermal losses of the treated air while passing though a plurality of flow lines within a wind turbine tower.

Abstract: The present invention provides a Stirling engine employing a segmented, rotary displacer for producing mechanical energy from a heat source. The engine includes a rotor shaft rotatably positioned in the interior toroidal cavity with a segmented displacer mounted to the rotor shaft within the interior toroidal cavity.

Abstract: A thermal-cycle cryocooler, such as a Stirling-cycle cryocooler, has a single working volume that is utilized by both the compressor and the displacer. The compressor and the displacer have respective movable parts, one of which is surrounded by the other. One of the parts may be a piston, a portion of which moves within a central bore or opening in a cylinder that is the other movable part. The piston may be a component of the compressor and the cylinder may be a component of the displacer, or vice versa. The working volume is located in part in a bore of the cylinder, between the piston and a regenerator that is coupled to the cylinder. Movements of either the piston or the cylinder can directly (i.e. without the use of a gas transfer line or flow passage) cause compression or expansion of the working gas in the working volume.

Abstract: A system for generating power from a low grade heat source includes a heat source inlet, heat sink inlet, heat exchanger unit, and a heat engine. The heat source inlet conveys a flow of a heated fluid into the system. The heat sink inlet conveys a flow of a cooled fluid into the system. The heat exchanger unit is configured to rotate. A portion of the heat exchanger unit alternates between thermal contact with the heated fluid and thermal contact with the cooled fluid in response to being rotated. The heat engine is configured to generate power in response to the heat exchanger unit being rotated.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for generating heat and transferring the heat to a heater head of an external combustion engine, preferably, a Stirling engine. Fuel and air are introduced into a combustion chamber and mixed to form an air/fuel mixture. The air/fuel mixture is combusted over a combustion catalyst positioned in physical contact with a heat spreader, which itself is positioned in physical contact with a heat acceptor surface. The heat acceptor surface is secured in thermal communication with the heater head. Depending upon the design of the heater head, heat flux from the heat acceptor surface into the heater head may occur radially or non-radially.

Abstract: A Stirling engine is provided with a fluid passage that connects a low temperature-side actuating fluid space and a crankcase inner space, and a passage opening/closing valve that is provided in the fluid passage and that opens and closes the fluid passage. Upon stopping of the Stirling engine, the passage opening/closing valve enables communication through the fluid passage, at a region at which the piston floats in the cylinder. This region is determined based on the pressure of an actuating fluid in the actuating fluid space and the rotational speed of a crankshaft of the Stirling engine.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method to extract more energy from liquid hydrogen than the currently used method in hydrogen fuel cells, to harness the energy efficiently, to cool down hot parts of a vehicle while using that heat to power the vehicle and to extract energy from the ambient air to power the vehicle. The apparatus uses simple thermodynamic rules to take advantage of the waste heat generated in the vehicle. The apparatus (Systematic Application of Liquid Ingredients to Harness energy, SALIH for short) will theoretically double the efficiency of a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, allowing it to travel the same distance of the current average family sedan.

Abstract: A Stirling cycle machine. The machine includes at least one rocking drive mechanism which includes: a rocking beam having a rocker pivot, at least one cylinder and at least one piston. The piston is housed within a respective cylinder and is capable of substantially linearly reciprocating within the respective cylinder. Also, the drive mechanism includes at least one coupling assembly having a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end is connected to the piston and the distal end is connected to the rocking beam by an end pivot. The linear motion of the piston is converted to rotary motion of the rocking beam. Also, a crankcase housing the rocking beam and housing a first portion of the coupling assembly is included. A crankshaft coupled to the rocking beam by way of a connecting rod is also included. The rotary motion of the rocking beam is transferred to the crankshaft.

Abstract: A device for conversion of thermodynamic energy into electrical energy includes a piston/cylinder unit (16), a generator (18), and a controller (14). The piston/cylinder unit (16) includes a pressure cylinder (24) and a piston (26) arranged in the pressure cylinder (24) and linearly movable by a change in volume of a working medium. The generator (18) includes a coil (22) and a magnet (20). The magnet (20) is coupled to the piston (26) such that a linear movement of the piston (26) effects a linear movement of the magnet (20) within the coil (22). The controller (14) controls the working stroke of the device as a function of at least one measured process parameter.

Abstract: A mechanically decoupled, fluid displacing Sterling engine includes first and second containers, first and second fluid conduits mounted to the containers, a pump mounted in cooperation with the second conduit for selectively pumping fluid between the containers, a processor controlling the pump, a third fluid conduit whose lower end extends into the lower end of the second container, a fluid motivated actuator mounted to the third conduit. The first and second containers contain an actuating volume of an actuating fluid and a working gas. Expanding of the gas actuates the actuator. The volume of the containers is pressurized by a geothermal temperature differential. The pump displaces the actuating fluid between the containers so as to correspondingly displace the gas for heating or cooling to provide the temperature differential to the gas.

Abstract: The power recovery system includes: a Stirling engine; and a vaporization device that stores a liquid therein in such a manner that the liquid is kept in contact with an upper portion of a cylinder and vaporizes the liquid by supplying the cold heat of the liquid to the upper portion of the cylinder. The vaporization device includes a liquid container which stores the liquid therein in such a manner that the liquid is kept in contact with the upper portion of the cylinder, and an outer container embracing the liquid container and defining a space portion around the liquid container. The space portion communicates with the liquid container and an exhaust vent. Gas vaporized in the liquid container passes between the liquid container and an outer wall surface of a heat insulating material during passage thereof from the liquid container to the exhaust vent through the space portion.

Abstract: A thermal engine is described, which has two pairs of chambers, comprising a first and a second heat transmission chamber and a first and second working chamber which are connected alternately via a first and second cooling device and a first and second heat exchanger, so that a shared total interior is formed, in which a working medium is situated. Linearly movable first and second heat transmission pistons and first and second working pistons are mounted inside the chambers. The particular relative aligned arrangement of the chambers and the special development of the piston heads of the heat transmission pistons lead to an increased efficiency of the thermal engine being able to be achieved.

Abstract: A Stirling engine includes a base member that connects a housing portion with a heater that heats a working fluid using exhaust heat of a main engine, and a support member that supports the Stirling engine at the base member is provided.

Abstract: Provided is a Stirling cycle engine capable of being downsized without decreasing an assembling efficiency. A flange section as a fitting section is formed on one end of an inner core. A retainer plate as a retaining member for the flange section, holds and fixes the same with the aid of a second side surface of a mount integrally formed on a proximal end section of a cylinder, thus substantially coaxially arranging the cylinder and inner core. Accordingly, regardless of a thermal expansion difference between the cylinder and inner core, generation of impurity gas can be prevented; deformations of the cylinder and the inner core; and tremble of the inner core. Further, a conventional proximal end portion of the cylinder is not needed for fixing the inner core, thus reducing an outer diameter of a driving mechanism, eventually, an outer diameter of a casing.

Abstract: This engine (1) (of the piston engine or rotary Wankel-type engine type) includes a heat-exchanging cylinder head (2) which transfers to the fluid internal to the engine the heat energy collected from an external hot source (liquid, gaseous or by radiation). In a closed or open cycle it uses a gaseous fluid (air) or a refrigerant such as an engine fluid in particular when the temperature of the hot source is low. The volumetric compression ratio of the engine is optimized according to the temperature level of the hot source in order on the one hand to allow the internal heat exchanging cylinder head (2) and (9) to be positioned in the dead volume freed inside the chamber (piston top dead center) of the engine (1) and on the other hand to extract significant mechanical work. It is a matter of increasing technological feasibility at the expense of an acceptable loss in efficiency given that the contribution from the hot source is free of charge.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and a method for transferring heat by conduction to the internal heat acceptor of an external combustion engine. Fuel and air are introduced into a combustion chamber and mixed to form an air/fuel mixture. The air/fuel mixture is directed into a catalytic reactor that is positioned in direct contact (non-spaced-apart relation) with the heater head. Heat is transferred via conduction from the catalytic reactor to the heater head; and the catalytic reaction products are exhausted with heat recuperation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a Stirling engine in which power is generated using a variation in pressure generated by continuously performing periodical heating and cooling operations when a heat transfer medium is stored in a sealed inner space. The Stirling engine generates power for rotating an output shaft (12) through the expansion and contraction of the heat transfer medium sealed and received in a space partitioned by a baffle (40) within an inner space (21) of a housing (20). Thus, when compared to the prior art, the Stirling engine of the present invention may be more easily manufactured. Also, the heat transfer medium for generating power may be easily managed, maintained, and repaired. In addition, since the heat circulation structure is simple, the Stirling engine of the present invention can achieve relatively higher thermal efficiency than those of the prior art.

Abstract: A liquid pump of a screw expander is disclosed, applicable to an Organic Rankin Cycle (ORC). The liquid pump of a screw expander includes a semi-sealed or fully sealed shell. An expander unit and a liquid pump unit are disposed in the shell. The expander unit includes a screw rotor, and the liquid pump unit includes a screw rotor. The rotor of the expander unit is fixedly connected to the rotor of the liquid pump unit. The rotor of the liquid pump unit rotates under driving of the rotor of the expander unit. In the liquid pump of a screw expander applied to the ORC, since a resistance torque of the female rotor is small, the liquid pump does not wear even when the liquid viscosity is low, contributing to high reliability of the liquid pump. Meanwhile, the liquid pump is driven by the screw expander, thereby further improving power generation efficiency of the ORC.