An active absorber is provided for a system comprising an AC electricity generating engine with a linear alternator. The active absorber comprises: a sensor, arranged to determine at least one parameter of the system; and an actuator, configured to provide an adjustable force, the force being set on the basis of the at least one determined parameter.
To interface a prime mover driven alternator (20) with an alternating current network, an electronic load (80) connected in parallel with the prime mover driven alternator (20) is activated as part of a transition between a disconnected state and a connected state. The disconnected state is when the prime mover driven alternator is electrically isolated from the alternating current circuit and the connected state is when the prime mover driven alternator is electrically coupled to the alternating current circuit.
H02J 3/38 - Arrangements for parallelly feeding a single network by two or more generators, converters or transformers
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
To regulate the electrical output of a generator, a signal is received indicative of at least one characteristic of the electrical output. A first, relatively fast-response sub- controller is configured to provide a first control signal on the basis of the at least one characteristic and a second, relatively slow-response sub-controller is configured to provide a second control signal on the basis of the at least one characteristic. An output provides a combined control signal to adjust the electrical output based on the first and second control signals.
A Stirling engine comprising a housing containing a displacer and a power piston arranged to reciprocate relatively to one another. A head (1) is adjacent to the displacer to absorb heat, and is surrounded by a block of copper or aluminium (14, 20). A substantial proportion of the block is clad with a layer (18) of stainless steel or Inconel having a thickness of between 3mm and 0.15mm.
A combined heat and power system comprising a source (5) of solid fuel (P). A burner (8) within the combustion chamber (9) combusts the fuel. The combustion chamber has first and second outlets for the hot exhaust gas. A first heat exchanger (15) is fed with hot exhaust gas from the first outlet. A Stirling engine (1) in a second chamber (11) to which the second outlet leads, the Stirling engine being arranged to generate electricity when its head (3) is exposed to the hot exhaust gas. A second heat exchanger (16) is downstream of the second chamber, the second heat exchanger being arranged to receive hot exhaust gas once it has passed the Stirling engine head. The first and second heat exchangers are connected to a water supply (20) to provide a supply of hot water. A fan (13, 22) draws air through the combustion chamber. A damper (21) controls the flow of gas through the second chamber and second heat exchanger.
A Stirling engine system comprising a Stirling engine (1), a burner (5) adjacent to the engine, and a supply of combustible fuel to the burner to produce a hot combusted fuel stream to heat the engine. The system further comprises means (14, 21) to provide relative movement between the burner and engine to increase the proportion of combusted fuel which bypasses the engine as the required heat output increases.
An annular regenerator assembly comprising an annular regenerator medium (1) bounded on inner and outer surfaces by inner (2) and outer (3) sleeves respectively. At least one of the sleeves has a bend (4) to form an annular sealing projection extending around the sleeve and projecting in a direction away from the regenerator medium.
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
A heating system for heating a fluid, the system comprising two separate heat exchangers (7, 8), each directly heated by a burner (1, 2) to heat the fluid, a common flue (9) into which the two burners are arranged to discharge their exhaust gas, a common fan (3) arranged to supply air to the two burners, and a gas supply to each burner. A splitter valve (4) splits the air flow from the fan to the two burners. A controller controls the speed of the fan (3), the position of the splitter valve (4) and the gas supplies according to the het output requirement of the system.
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
F16K 11/085 - Multiple-way valves, e.g. mixing valves; Pipe fittings incorporating such valves; Arrangement of valves and flow lines specially adapted for mixing fluid with all movable sealing faces moving as one unit comprising only taps or cocks with cylindrical plug
F23L 13/02 - Construction of valves or dampers for controlling air supply or draught pivoted about a single axis but having no other movement
F24H 9/20 - Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
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