A Stirling engine can take advantage of adiabatic compression (which heats working gas leaving the cold cylinder) and adiabatic expansion (which cools working gas leaving the hot cylinder) to increase efficiency. In some implementations, partially-heated gas leaving the cold cylinder and partially-cooled gas leaving the hot cylinder can be routed directly to a regenerator using bypass paths that are opened using one-way valves. The resultant relatively reduced temperature difference across the regenerator, e.g., as compared to a typical Stirling engine, can reduce thermal loss and improve efficiency. In some implementations, the compression ratios of the Stirling engine can be adjusted such that the temperature of the adiabatic heated gas is the same or higher than the temperature of the adiabatic cooled temperatures, thus eliminating the need for a regenerator.

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. A burner and burner control system is also included for heating the machine and controlling ignition and combustion in the burner.

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. A burner and burner control system is also included for heating the machine and controlling ignition and combustion in the burner.

A system for energy conversion including a closed cycle engine containing a volume of working fluid is provided. The engine includes a double-ended piston assembly including a pair of pistons coupled to a connection member. An expansion chamber is separated from a compression chamber by the piston. The engine defines an outer end and an inner end relative to a lateral extension of the piston assembly. A heater body is positioned thermally proximal to the expansion chamber and thermally distal to the compression chamber, and the heater body is positioned at the outer end of the engine. A load device is operably coupled to the piston assembly at the inner end of the engine. The load device is positioned between the pair of pistons of the piston assembly.

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. A burner and burner control system is also included for heating the machine and controlling ignition and combustion in the burner.

An aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a system for energy conversion. The system includes a closed cycle engine containing a volume of working fluid. The engine includes an expansion chamber and a compression chamber each separated by a piston attached to a connection member of a piston assembly. The engine further includes a plurality of heater conduits extended from the expansion chamber. The engine includes a plurality of chiller conduits extended from the compression chamber. The expansion chamber and heater conduits are fluidly connected to the compression chamber and chiller conduits via a walled conduit.

A radiant heat recovery heater includes U-shaped heat transfer tubes each including a first path and a second path arranged on a mounting section. The U-shaped heat transfer tubes are housed in a container fixed to the mounting section. The first paths and the second paths of the U-shaped heat transfer tubes are arranged on the mounting section at equal intervals with a pitch angle . The first paths are each arranged on the mounting section at a position offset from the pitch angle for the associated second path by a predetermined angle , so as not to completely overlap a projection of that second path, the projection extending from the container toward the center C of the container.

A system for electricity generation using heat contained in exhaust gas from a combustor (enclosed flare) to drive an external combustion Stirling cycle engine which directly drives at least one alternator or generator. A battery is connected to the alternator or generator through a divider circuit followed by a filter circuit. Electric power distribution circuits are electrically connected to output circuits of the alternators or generators for consumption of the electric power on-site, for sale to a commercial electric power distribution grid, or for any other desired uses.

A system for electricity generation using heat contained in exhaust gas from a combustor (enclosed flare) to drive an external combustion Stirling cycle engine which directly drives at least one alternator or generator. A battery is connected to the alternator or generator through a divider circuit followed by a filter circuit. Electric power distribution circuits are electrically connected to output circuits of the alternators or generators for consumption of the electric power on-site, for sale to a commercial electric power distribution grid, or for any other desired uses.

A radiation thermal absorber based on characteristic absorption spectrum, a Stirling engine and an operation method thereof. The radiation thermal absorber allows working gas in the Stirling engine to absorb radiation heat quickly, and help the Stirling engine adopt assistant heating to ensure steady operation when solar power is not enough. The radiation thermal absorber includes a heater base, a radiation energy conversion device, heating tubes, a combustion chamber and valves of the heating tubes. The radiation energy conversion device converts the solar energy into radiation energy near a characteristic absorption peak of the working gas, and the working gas absorbs the radiation directly in depth.