Thermodynamic apparatuses embodied as compression-expansion heat pumps or heat engine systems are described. An example heat pump system includes a rotary compressor having a compression chamber, a rotary expander having an expansion chamber, and a drive shaft that extends between the rotary compressor and the rotary expander. The drive shaft includes a compressor shaft section having a first roller angularly positioned about a rotation axis of the drive shaft. The first roller being mechanically coupled with the blade rotary compressor for fluid compression within the compression chamber. The drive shaft further includes an expander shaft section having a second roller angularly positioned about the rotation axis of the drive shaft. The second roller being mechanically coupled with the blade rotary expander for fluid expansion within the expansion chamber.
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
A multi-layered regenerator for adjusting temperature of gas or fluid flowing therethrough is provided. The regenerator includes a cover portion and a base portion, each of the cover portion and the base portion comprising a plurality of apertures permitting gas or fluid to flow from a top to a bottom of the multi-layered regenerator, and from the bottom to the top of the multi-layered regenerator. At least one of the cover portion and the base portion include thermal layers stacked vertically with respect to one another, each of the plurality of thermal layers having a predetermined porosity. At least a first one of the plurality of thermal layers is formed of a thermally conductive material and a second one of the plurality of thermal layers is formed of a thermally insulative material.
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 multi-layered regenerator for adjusting temperature of gas or fluid flowing therethrough is provided. The regenerator includes a cover portion and a base portion, each of the cover portion and the base portion comprising a plurality of apertures permitting gas or fluid to flow from a top to a bottom of the multi-layered regenerator, and from the bottom to the top of the multi-layered regenerator. At least one of the cover portion and the base portion include thermal layers stacked vertically with respect to one another, each of the plurality of thermal layers having a predetermined porosity. At least a first one of the plurality of thermal layers is formed of a thermally conductive material and a second one of the plurality of thermal layers is formed of a thermally insulative material.
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
A heat exchanger and a method to fabricate a heat exchanger are disclosed. A brazing compound is applied to a surface of a host piece, such a host cylinder. A flat, rectangular piece of metallic material is corrugated and crushed to form pluralities of crests and troughs. The troughs are flattened before abutting with the brazing compound on the host cylinder. The crushed folded fin is brazed to the host cylinder. In some embodiments, a folded fin is brazed to both the inside and outside cylindrical surfaces of the host cylinder. The resulting heat exchanger has high effectiveness and is low cost.
A tubular reactor is a combination combustor and heat exchanger. Combustion occurs adjacent to the tubes of the tubular reactor. A control method is disclosed that detects that combustion is occurring based on a temperature measurement. If not, a shutdown procedure or a restart is commanded. Additionally, the control method enters a shutdown procedure or a restart is commanded when temperature at the tubes exceeds a maximum temperature that would harm the tubular reactor.
A tubular reactor which acts as a combustor and heat exchanger is disclosed. Such reactor supplants a system with a combustor having a heat exchanger arranged around the combustor. The combined system includes a diffuser having an inlet for a fuel-and-air mixture and a plurality of holes defined in its surface through which the fuel-and-air mixture exits the diffuser and a plurality of tubes. First linear portions along the length of each tube are mutually parallel with a centerline of the first portions of the tubes displaced from the diffuser by a predetermined distance. Centerlines of the linear portions of adjacent tubes are displaced from each other by a predetermined gap. The fuel and air combust in the proximity of the first portion of the tubes for effective heat transfer to gases traveling through the tubes. Such a tubular reactor can be employed within a thermal-compression heat pump.
F28D 21/00 - Heat-exchange apparatus not covered by any of the groups
F28D 1/047 - Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with the heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with tubular conduits the conduits being bent, e.g. in a serpentine or zig-zag
F25B 9/14 - Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point characterised by the cycle used, e.g. Stirling cycle
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
7.
A THERMAL-COMPRESSION HEAT PUMP WITH FOUR CHAMBERS SEPARATED BY THREE REGENERATORS
Vuilleumier heat pumps have hot and cold displacers that reciprocate within a cylinder and are crank-synchronized. In a more recent development, a thermal-compression heat pump has independently-actuated displacers that allow greater control over the actuation of the displacers and open up possibilities for rearrangement of the components in the heat pump. A thermal-compression heat pump is disclosed in which the warm chamber is separated into warm-hot and warm-cold chambers. The warm-hot chamber is fluidly coupled to a warm-hot heat exchanger; and the warm-cold chamber is fluidly coupled to a warm-cold heat exchanger. The warm-hot and warm-cold chambers are additionally fluidly coupled via a temperature barrier chamber. Such arrangement allows more control over operating temperature while maintaining high system COP.
F25B 9/14 - Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point characterised by the cycle used, e.g. Stirling cycle
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
8.
Centrally located linear actuators for driving displacers in a thermodynamic apparatus
A heat pump is disclosed that has a hot displacer section and a cold displacer section with a linear actuator section disposed between the hot and cold displacer sections. By providing the linear actuator section between the displacers, the shafts that couple the actuators in the linear actuator section to their respective displacer is shorter than if the linear actuator section were located at the bottom of the cold displacer. The shorter shaft can be less stiff to avoid buckling. Due to a lesser propensity to cock, there is less friction of the shaft when reciprocating.
F04B 17/04 - Pumps characterised by combination with, or adaptation to, specific driving engines or motors driven by electric motors using solenoids
F25B 9/14 - Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point characterised by the cycle used, e.g. Stirling cycle
A coil spring system is disclosed that includes collinear first and second coil springs of opposite sense. First ends of the springs are captured in a first plate; second ends of the springs are captured in a second plate. Under compression and left unconstrained, the springs can bend, rotate, and increase in diameter in compensation to the applied force. According to the embodiments of the disclosure, hooks formed at the ends of the coil springs are captured in orifices in plates and the points of capture in the plates are selected so that the bending force of the first spring counteracts the bending force of the second spring and the plates are constrained from rotating. Thus, the springs compensate to the applied force by increase in diameter.
F16F 3/04 - Spring units consisting of several springs, e.g. for obtaining a desired spring characteristic with springs made of steel or of other material having low internal friction composed only of wound springs
A thermodynamic apparatus that includes a displacer within a cylinder is disclosed. The displacer reciprocates within the cylinder by a linear actuator that includes electrical coils, an armature, and a coil spring system. The spring system includes collinear first and second coil springs of opposite sense. First ends of the springs are captured in a first plate; second ends of the springs are captured in a second plate. Without constraint, the springs can compensate to forces by bending, rotating, increasing in diameter, and combinations thereof. In certain applications, such as the heat pump, bending should be minimized. By selecting the points of capture of the hooks at the ends of the springs in the plates, bending force of the first spring counteracts the bending force of the second spring.
F25B 9/14 - Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point characterised by the cycle used, e.g. Stirling cycle
A heat pump is disclosed that has a hot displacer section and a cold displacer section with a linear actuator section disposed between the hot and cold displacer sections. By providing the linear actuator section between the displacers, the shafts that couple the actuators in the linear actuator section to their respective displacer is shorter than if the linear actuator section were located at the bottom of the cold displacer. The shorter shaft can be less stiff to avoid buckling. Due to a lesser propensity to cock, there is less friction of the shaft when reciprocating.
A linear actuator is disclosed that is a double-ended solenoid with springs to provide much of the force for movement. The linear actuator can be used in a thermodynamic apparatus, such as a Vuilleumier heat pump in which two linear actuators are provided to drive two displacers. The linear actuator also has a cylindrical back iron section having first and second recesses with coils disposed in the recesses. The linear actuator assists in moving the armature from one end to the other and holds the armature at the end of travel. However, much of the force for moving the armature is provided by a spring exerting a force on the shaft with respect to the back iron section. In one embodiment, the spring is a compression-tension spring. Alternatively, two compression springs acting in opposition are provided.
An annular heat exchanger is disclosed that uses a spiral of a metallic ribbon that has a plurality of passages therein. The spiral is wound in such a manner such that there are gaps of a predetermined distance between adjacent turns. A plurality of spacers is put into the gaps at a first angular position and a second angular position. The assembly is brazed to form a solid between the spacers and the spiraled metallic ribbon. Inlet and outlet holes are machined through the spacers and the ribbon thereby fluidly coupling the passages in the ribbon with the holes. One of the fluids passes from the inlet hole to the outlet hole through one of the plurality of passages. The other fluid flows through the remaining gap areas between the turns of the metallic ribbon.
F28D 7/10 - Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits being arranged one within the other, e.g. concentrically
F28F 3/12 - Elements constructed in the shape of a hollow panel, e.g. with channels
Some heat pumps have displacers mechatronically-controlled via springs and coils acting upon a ferromagnetic plate. In some prior art heat pumps, the components are housed in hot parts of the heat pump and in others, the components are housed in a cold part of the heat pump, but the components are offset from a central axis of the heat pump. A heat pump with the mechatronic driver components collinear with a central axis of the heat pump has the components in a cold part of the heat pump.
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
F25B 9/14 - Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point characterised by the cycle used, e.g. Stirling cycle
A gas-fired heat pump that has independently-actuated displacers, as opposed to crank coupled displacers, has some displacer strokes that require more energy than others to travel. By coupling the displacers by a spring, the forces to move the displacers are more evenly matched. A gas spring coupled between the displacers is disclosed in which volume with the gas spring includes: a portion of the volume within the hot displacer, a portion of the volume within the cold displacer, and a volume between the two displacers. Also disclosed is a bridge that spans across the housing between the hot and cold displacers. The forces acting on the displacers via the gas spring are based on pressure in the gas spring and the cross-sectional areas of plungers on the hot displacer, the cold displacer, and the bridge.
F25B 9/14 - Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point characterised by the cycle used, e.g. Stirling cycle
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
A thermodynamic apparatus, such as a Stirling engine or a Vuilleumier heat pump, has a heat exchanger in which energy is exchanged between a working fluid and an exhaust gas stream. On top of the cylinder of the thermodynamic apparatus is a dome-shaped section. By incorporating the heat exchanger within the dome, the flow paths can be simplified, the number of separate components reduced, and overall weight reduced. Flow passages for the working fluid are embedded in the dome. Channels for the exhaust gases are formed in an outer surface. The passages and the channels are helically arranged, one clockwise and one counter clockwise. The dome can be cast with a core for the casting fabricated via three-dimensional printing. In some embodiments, the dome is made of fiber-reinforced material.
Reciprocating apparatuses such as a displacer in a Stirling engine or Vuilleumier (thermally-driven) heat pump and such as a poppet valve in an internal combustion engine have been known to be built with a mechatronic actuator. The reciprocating element has two springs in compression biased against each other. It has been found that conventional springs in compression introduce losses. A spring is disclosed in which a portion of the coil is wound in a clockwise direction and a portion is wound in a clockwise direction. Also, in reciprocation, the spring is in compression at one end of travel and in tension at the other end of travel.
F01L 1/46 - Component parts, details, or accessories, not provided for in preceding subgroups
F01L 9/04 - Valve-gear or valve arrangements actuated non-mechanically by electric means
F16F 1/02 - Springs made of steel or other material having low internal frictionWound, torsion, leaf, cup, ring or the like springs, the material of the spring not being relevant
It is common in heating systems, such as in a hot water heater for there to be a combustor with the exhaust gases from the combustor provided to a heat exchanger to heat up the water. Disclosed herein is an integrated heat exchanger and burner assembly in which the combustion occurs proximate the surface of the heat exchanger. Such a system may include at least one tube that is coiled into a number of turns, that is a tube coil with the at least one tube having an inlet and an outlet and the distance between adjacent turns is less than a predetermined distance, i.e. a the quench distance.
F22B 15/00 - Water-tube boilers of horizontal type, i.e. the water-tube sets being arranged horizontally
F24H 9/20 - Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
F23N 5/12 - Systems for controlling combustion using devices responsive to thermal changes or to thermal expansion of a medium using ionisation-sensitive elements, i.e. flame rods
F24H 1/43 - Water heaters other than continuous-flow or water-storage heaters, e.g. water heaters for central heating with water tube or tubes helically or spirally coiled
F23M 9/10 - Baffles or deflectors formed as tubes, e.g. in water-tube boilers
F23N 1/08 - Regulating fuel supply conjointly with another medium, e.g. boiler water
F28D 7/02 - Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits being helically coiled
F28D 7/04 - Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits being spirally coiled
F28D 21/00 - Heat-exchange apparatus not covered by any of the groups
F28F 1/02 - Tubular elements of cross-section which is non-circular
F28F 1/16 - Tubular elements or assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with projections, with recesses the means being only outside the tubular element and extending longitudinally the means being integral with the element, e.g. formed by extrusion
F24H 1/14 - Continuous-flow heaters, i.e. heaters in which heat is generated only while the water is flowing, e.g. with direct contact of the water with the heating medium in which the water is kept separate from the heating medium by tubes, e.g. bent in serpentine form
Commercial and residential air conditioners, heat pumps, furnaces, hot water heaters, heat exchangers for heat pumps, gas burners, environmental control units comprising heat pumps, and parts therefor
A four-process cycle is disclosed for a Vuilleumier heat pump that has mechatronically-controlled displacers. Vuilleumier heat pumps that use a crank to drive the displacers have been previously developed. However, mechatronic controls provides a greater degree of freedom to control the displacers. The four-process cycle provides a higher coefficient of performance than prior cycles in the crank-driven Vuilleumier heat pump and those previously disclosed for a mechatronically-driven Vuilleumier heat pump.
F25B 9/00 - Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point
F25B 9/14 - Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point characterised by the cycle used, e.g. Stirling cycle
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
21.
A THERMALLY-DRIVEN HEAT PUMP HAVING A HEAT EXCHANGER LOCATED BETWEEN DISPLACERS
A thermally- driven heat pump is disclosed in which at least most of the warm heat exchanger is disposed within the cylinder between the hot and cold displacers. Such an arrangement is not suitable for a prior art heat pump in which movement of the displacers is based on a crank because it would lead to too much dead volume in the system. However, with mechatronically-controlled displacers in which the displacers are independently controlled, the displacers can reciprocate up to the heat exchanger. Such a configuration reduces dead volume compared to prior art Vuilleumier heat pumps in which the warm exchanger occupies a portion of an annular space between the cylinder in which the displacers move.
F25B 9/14 - Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point characterised by the cycle used, e.g. Stirling cycle
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
A four-process cycle is disclosed for a Vuilleumier heat pump that has mechatronically-controlled displacers. Vuilleumier heat pumps that use a crank to drive the displacers have been previously developed. However, mechatronic controls provides a greater degree of freedom to control the displacers. The four-process cycle provides a higher coefficient of performance than prior cycles in the crank-driven Vuilleumier heat pump and those previously disclosed for a mechatronically-driven Vuilleumier heat pump.
F25B 9/14 - Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point characterised by the cycle used, e.g. Stirling cycle
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
A Vuilleumier heat pump is disclosed in which hot and cold displacers are controlled by first and second electromagnetic actuators, respectively. The first actuator is capable of moving the hot displacer between the first and second ends of travel while the cold displacer remains stationary and the second actuator is capable of moving the cold displacer while the hot displacer remains stationary. Prior art crank arrangements are unable to provide dwell in one displacer while moving the other displacer. Actuation of the displacers according to embodiments of the present disclosure provides a higher coefficient of performance than crank arrangements.
F25B 9/14 - Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point characterised by the cycle used, e.g. Stirling cycle
It is common in heating systems, such as in a hot water heater for there to be a combustor with the exhaust gases from the combustor provided to a heat exchanger to heat up the water. Disclosed herein is an integrated heat exchanger and burner assembly in which the combustion occurs proximate the surface of the heat exchanger. Such a system may include at least one tube that is coiled into a number of turns, that is a tube coil with the at least one tube having an inlet and an outlet and the distance between adjacent turns is less than a predetermined distance, i.e. a the quench distance.
F24H 1/43 - Water heaters other than continuous-flow or water-storage heaters, e.g. water heaters for central heating with water tube or tubes helically or spirally coiled
F22B 1/18 - Methods of steam generation characterised by form of heating method by exploitation of the heat content of hot heat carriers the heat carrier being a hot gas, e.g. waste gas such as exhaust gas of internal-combustion engines
F23N 5/12 - Systems for controlling combustion using devices responsive to thermal changes or to thermal expansion of a medium using ionisation-sensitive elements, i.e. flame rods
F24H 9/00 - FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL Details
A Vuilleumier heat pump is disclosed in which the hot and cold displacers are disposed with a cylinder wall and an annular space outside the cylinder wall and inside the outer housing has at least one heat exchanger disposed therein. Any volume in the annular space is dead volume. A compact, effective heat exchanger is disclosed that facilitates reducing the dead volume. The heat exchanger is substantially helical with tubes that have a cross section that have a length in the direction of flow between adjacent tubes greater than a length perpendicular to the direction of flow.
F28D 1/00 - Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators
F28F 1/10 - Tubular elements or assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with projections, with recesses
Substituting a solar concentrator for a conventional burner for heating is desirable. However, the sun's energy is diurnal and cannot be counted upon even during daylight hours. To ensure heating is available, a backup conventional combustor can be provided. According to the present disclosure, a heat exchanger element of the heater assembly is directly acted upon by solar rays via a solar concentrator and by combustion. The heat exchanger acts as the combustion holder. Fuel provided to the outside of the heat exchanger is adjusted based on the demanded for heating and the amount of insolation achieved via the solar concentrator. The heat exchanger can be part of a conventional heater or a heat pump for heating water or air.
A Vuilleumier heat pump is disclosed in which hot and cold displacers are controlled by first and second electromagnetic actuators, respectively. The first actuator is capable of moving the hot displacer between the first and second ends of travel while the cold displacer remains stationary and the second actuator is capable of moving the cold displacer while the hot displacer remains stationary. Prior art crank arrangements are unable to provide dwell in one displacer while moving the other displacer. Actuation of the displacers according to embodiments of the present disclosure provides a higher coefficient of performance than crank arrangements.
F25B 9/14 - Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point characterised by the cycle used, e.g. Stirling cycle
A four-process cycle is disclosed for a Vuilleumier heat pump that has mechatronically-controlled displacers. Vuilleumier heat pumps that use a crank to drive the displacers have been previously developed. However, mechatronic controls provides a greater degree of freedom to control the displacers. The four-process cycle provides a higher coefficient of performance than prior cycles in the crank-driven Vuilleumier heat pump and those previously disclosed for a mechatronically-driven Vuilleumier heat pump.
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
F25B 9/14 - Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point characterised by the cycle used, e.g. Stirling cycle
It is common in heating systems, such as in a hot water heater for there to be a combustor with the exhaust gases from the combustor provided to a heat exchanger to heat up the water. Disclosed herein is an integrated heat exchanger and burner assembly in which the combustion occurs proximate the surface of the heat exchanger. Such a system may include at least one tube that is coiled into a number of turns, that is a tube coil with the at least one tube having an inlet and an outlet and the distance between adjacent turns is less than a predetermined distance, i.e. a the quench distance.
F22B 1/18 - Methods of steam generation characterised by form of heating method by exploitation of the heat content of hot heat carriers the heat carrier being a hot gas, e.g. waste gas such as exhaust gas of internal-combustion engines
F23N 5/12 - Systems for controlling combustion using devices responsive to thermal changes or to thermal expansion of a medium using ionisation-sensitive elements, i.e. flame rods
F24H 1/43 - Water heaters other than continuous-flow or water-storage heaters, e.g. water heaters for central heating with water tube or tubes helically or spirally coiled
