Abstract

An alpha type Stirling engine, comprising four pistons housed in respective chambers for reciprocating movement, at least two linear motors/generators configured to cause said pistons to move in the respective chambers, each one of said pistons defining in its respective chamber a primary chamber side located on one side of the piston and a secondary chamber side located on the other side of the piston. The Stirling engine comprises two primary gas channels, each one fluidly interconnecting two primary chamber sides. The Stirling engine also comprises two secondary gas channels, each one fluidly interconnecting two secondary chamber sides in different chamber combinations than the interconnections achieved by the primary gas channels.

IPC Classes  ?

• F02G 1/045 - Controlling

Abstract

A system for controlling the power output of a Stirling is provided that includes a hot heat source and a cold heat sink. A control unit receives a first temperature signal representative of a measured temperature of the hot heat source and a second temperature signal representative of a measured temperature of the cold heat sink. A look-up table provides a representation of the power output as a function of the mean engine pressure, pie, and the operating frequency, ƒ, of the Stirling engine. The values of the power output in the look-up table have been determined for predefined temperatures of the hot heat source and the cold heat sink. The control unit is configured to, based on the received temperature signals, recalculate the values of the power output and update the look-up table accordingly, and to control the power output by controlling the mean engine pressure, pie, and the operating frequency, ƒ, based on the updated look-up table. A method of controlling the power output of a Stirling engine is also provided.

IPC Classes  ?

• F02G 1/045 - Controlling

Abstract

A thermal energy storage system is provided that includes a container for containing a phase change material, a jacket connected to the exterior of the container. A compartment is formed between the jacket and the container, the jacket having an inlet for receiving a heat transfer fluid into the compartment and an outlet for discharging heat transfer fluid from the compartment. Thermal energy is transferred from the heat transfer fluid present in the compartment to the phase change material, and a flow guide provided in the compartment for guiding and distributing the heat transfer fluid that enters through the inlet. At least one side of the flow guide is welded to the jacket. The flow guide includes a concealing portion which extends from the at least one side. The concealing portion extends across the inlet and is spaced apart from the inlet.

IPC Classes  ?

• F28D 20/02 - Heat storage plants or apparatus in generalRegenerative heat-exchange apparatus not covered by groups or using latent heat
• F28D 20/00 - Heat storage plants or apparatus in generalRegenerative heat-exchange apparatus not covered by groups or

Abstract

A thermal energy storage is provided that includes a first container for a phase change material and a jacket connected to the first container. A space is formed between the jacket and the first container, a heating chamber is provided that includes a heating device, the heating chamber being in fluid communication with the jacket, a second container for a heat transfer fluid, a pump arrangement for pumping the heat transfer fluid from the second container, via the heating chamber, and to the said space formed between the jacket and the first container, in order to cause thermal energy to be transferred between the heat transfer fluid and the phase change material. The heating chamber has a projecting portion that extends through a wall of the second container such that a connecting interface between the pump arrangement and the heating chamber is located inside the second container. If any heat transfer fluid leaks through the connecting interface it remains in the second container.

IPC Classes  ?

• F28D 20/00 - Heat storage plants or apparatus in generalRegenerative heat-exchange apparatus not covered by groups or

Abstract

A heater is provided, in particular for heating a streaming fluid, which comprises a frame, at least one heating wire, at least one heating block and a housing, wherein the housing comprises an inlet section and an outlet section which are arranged spaced apart from each other along a flow axis, wherein the heating block comprises a plurality of flow channels and is held by the frame such that the flow channels extend parallel to the flow axis, wherein said at least one heating wire comprises two terminals adapted to be connected to an electric power supply, wherein the heating wire is held by the frame and/or the housing in a position adjacent to the at least one heating block, wherein the electrically heated heating wire causes a temperature rise in the heating block, wherein a fluid, preferably a gas like air, streaming from the inlet section to the outlet section, passes through the flow channels and is heated up by the heating blocks. The basic difference between the heater of the present invention and heaters known from the prior art is, the heat transfer into the streaming fluid does not take place directly at the heating wires, which are for instance electrically heated, but is performed by the heating blocks which themselves are heated with energy received from the heating wires. The advantage of this arrangement is, that the surface area at which heat can be transferred into the gas is drastically increased.

IPC Classes  ?

• F24H 3/04 - Air heaters with forced circulation the air being in direct contact with the heating medium, e.g. electric heating element

Abstract

The present invention relates to a regenerator, comprising at least two segments, wherein each segment comprises a permeable section with a circular and/or polygonal ring shape which extends around a flow axis, wherein two of said segments are spaced apart from each other by a spacer, wherein the spacers are made of other material than the permeable sections of said segments.

IPC Classes  ?

• F28D 17/02 - Regenerative heat-exchange apparatus in which a stationary intermediate heat-transfer medium or body is contacted successively by each heat-exchange medium, e.g. using granular particles using rigid bodies, e.g. of porous material

Abstract

An alpha type Stirling engine (1) comprises an expansion cylinder (2) and a compression cylinder (3). The Stirling engine further comprises a regenerator (4), a cooler (5), a heater (6), and a gas channel (7) which provides the expansion cylinder (2) in fluid communication with the compression cylinder (3). At least one of the expansion cylinder (2) and the compression cylinder (3) has a twin cylinder (2′, 3′) which functions as an additional expansion cylinder (2′) or an additional compression cylinder (3′), respectively, wherein the one of the expansion cylinder (2) and the compression cylinder (3) that has a twin cylinder (2′, 3′), is together with said twin cylinder (2′ 3′) connected to a first portion (7a) of the gas channel (7), from which first portion (7a) the gas channel (7) extends via the regenerator (4) to a second portion (7b) to which the other one of the expansion cylinder (2) and the compression cylinder (3) is connected.

IPC Classes  ?

• F02G 1/044 - Hot gas positive-displacement engine plants of closed-cycle type the engine being operated by expansion and contraction of a mass of working gas which is heated and cooled in one of a plurality of constantly communicating expansible chambers, e.g. Stirling cycle type engines having at least two working members, e.g. pistons, delivering power output
• F02G 1/057 - Regenerators
• F02B 75/18 - Multi-cylinder engines

Abstract

An alpha type Stirling engine is provided and comprises an expansion cylinder and a compression cylinder, a regenerator, a cooler, and a heater. Each one of the expansion cylinder and the compression cylinder has a movable piston connected to a respective linear electric generator/motor, wherein the Stirling engine further comprises a control unit which is operatively connected to the linear electric generators/motors and which is configured to control the linear electric generators/motors individually so as to enable a different stroke length and/or motion profile of the piston in the expansion cylinder compared to the piston in the compression cylinder.

IPC Classes  ?

• F02G 1/045 - Controlling
• F02G 1/04 - Hot gas positive-displacement engine plants of closed-cycle type
• F02G 1/044 - Hot gas positive-displacement engine plants of closed-cycle type the engine being operated by expansion and contraction of a mass of working gas which is heated and cooled in one of a plurality of constantly communicating expansible chambers, e.g. Stirling cycle type engines having at least two working members, e.g. pistons, delivering power output

Abstract

A method for pressurisation of a working gas in a Stirling engine assembly for use in a thermal energy plant, the Stirling engine assembly including: a Stirling engine including an expansion cylinder and a compression cylinder, wherein the expansion and compression cylinders are configured in a V-arrangement; a regenerator; a cooler and a heater; an accumulator, the accumulator being in fluidic connection with the expansion and/or compression cylinders of the Stirling engine; and a low pressure receptacle including the working gas. The method includes: providing working gas to the accumulator from the low pressure receptacle; providing a pressurisation fluid to the accumulator to reduce the volume for the working gas in the accumulator, thereby increasing the pressure of the working gas in the accumulator; and displacing the pressurised working gas from the accumulator to the expansion and/or compression cylinder.

IPC Classes  ?

• F02G 1/044 - Hot gas positive-displacement engine plants of closed-cycle type the engine being operated by expansion and contraction of a mass of working gas which is heated and cooled in one of a plurality of constantly communicating expansible chambers, e.g. Stirling cycle type engines having at least two working members, e.g. pistons, delivering power output
• F02G 1/043 - Hot gas positive-displacement engine plants of closed-cycle type the engine being operated by expansion and contraction of a mass of working gas which is heated and cooled in one of a plurality of constantly communicating expansible chambers, e.g. Stirling cycle type engines
• F02G 1/057 - Regenerators

Abstract

A rod seal assembly for a machine includes a crosshead and a sealed oscillating piston rod. The rod seal assembly includes a seal housing, a rod seal, a bushing and a rod seal base, wherein the rod seal, bushing and the rod seal base are annular and can be laterally moved in relation to the seal housing the housing axially supports the rod seal base, the rod seal base is adapted to be arranged around the piston rod and is provided with a base portion, wherein the base portion includes a lower axial surface directed in a first axial direction an upper axial surface directed in a second axial direction, wherein the lower axial surface abut the housing and the upper axial surface is provided with a rod seal seat, the rod seal is adapted to be arranged around the piston rod, and has a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first end portion is arranged to connect to the rod seal base in the first axial direction, and the bushing is arranged to abut the rod seal in the first axial direction, and the rod seal base and the bushing are arranged to have an axial overlap.

IPC Classes  ?

• F16J 15/56 - Other sealings for reciprocating rods
• F02G 1/053 - Component parts or details

Abstract

An assembly for storing thermal energy comprising a phase change material, PCM, storage vessel and at least one heat transfer fluid, HTF, receptacle, the PCM storage vessel being defined by a thermally conductive wall 108, the PCM storage vessel 100 comprising an inverted tapered portion, the inverted tapered portion having a tip portion and a base portion, the tip portion having a diameter less than the diameter of the base portion, the tip portion being arranged relatively beneath the base portion, the at least one HTF receptacle being provided adjacent to and in thermal communication with at least a portion of the PCM storage vessel, thermal communication between the PCM storage vessel and the at least one HTF receptacle occurring via the thermally conductive wall, and wherein the HTF receptacle comprises a portion for receiving thermal energy from an external thermal energy source, the said the portion being adjacent the tip portion of the inverted tapered portion.

IPC Classes  ?

• F28D 20/02 - Heat storage plants or apparatus in generalRegenerative heat-exchange apparatus not covered by groups or using latent heat

Abstract

A method of pumping a heat transfer fluid in a thermal energy storage system comprising a first thermal energy storage tank connected to a second thermal energy storage tank via a bi-directional flow member. The first and second thermal energy storage tanks are associated with a pressure vessel system comprising a first and second pressure vessel each pressure vessel being partially fillable with an actuating liquid, wherein, the method for pumping comprises: displacing the actuating liquid from the first pressure vessel to the second pressure vessel, thereby creating a pressure difference in the first thermal energy storage tank with respect to the second thermal energy storage tank, and therein displacing the heat transfer fluid via the bi-directional flow member.

IPC Classes  ?

• F03G 6/06 - Devices for producing mechanical power from solar energy with solar energy concentrating means
• F04F 1/10 - Pumps using positively or negatively pressurised fluid medium acting directly on the liquid to be pumped the fluid medium acting on the surface of the liquid to be pumped of multiple type, e.g. with two or more units in parallel
• F04F 1/14 - Pumps using positively or negatively pressurised fluid medium acting directly on the liquid to be pumped the fluid medium acting on the surface of the liquid to be pumped adapted to pump specific liquids, e.g. corrosive or hot liquids
• F17D 1/12 - Conveying liquids or viscous products by pressure of another fluid
• F28D 20/00 - Heat storage plants or apparatus in generalRegenerative heat-exchange apparatus not covered by groups or