A gas purifying apparatus has: a compressing unit for corn pressing a gas in which an atmosphere or inert gas and a substance vaporized by heating have been mixed; and an expanding unit for liquefying the substance by expanding the gas compressed by the compressing unit, wherein the gas in which the substance has been reduced is obtained.

An energy conversion apparatus may include an engine assembly, such as a monolithic engine assembly, that includes a first heater body and a first engine body. The first heater body may define a first portion of a first monolithic body or at least a portion of a first monolithic body-segment. The first engine body may define a second portion of the first monolithic body or at least a portion of a second monolithic body-segment operably coupled or operably couplable to the first heater body. The engine assembly may include a second heater body and/or a second engine body. The second heater body may define a portion of a second monolithic body or a third monolithic body-segment. The second engine body may define a portion of the second monolithic body or a fourth monolithic body-segment operably coupled or operably couplable to the second heater body and/or the first engine body.

An energy conversion apparatus may include an engine assembly, such as a monolithic engine assembly, that includes a first heater body and a first engine body. The first heater body may define a first portion of a first monolithic body or at least a portion of a first monolithic body-segment. The first engine body may define a second portion of the first monolithic body or at least a portion of a second monolithic body-segment operably coupled or operably couplable to the first heater body. The engine assembly may include a second heater body and/or a second engine body. The second heater body may define a portion of a second monolithic body or a third monolithic body-segment. The second engine body may define a portion of the second monolithic body or a fourth monolithic body-segment operably coupled or operably couplable to the second heater body and/or the first engine body.

A monolithic combustor body may provide multi-stage combustion. A combustor body may include a combustion chamber body and a plurality of heating walls that include a heat sink. The combustion chamber body may be disposed annularly about a longitudinal axis and defining a combustion chamber. The plurality of heating walls may include heat sink. The plurality of heating walls may occupy a radially or concentrically outward position relative to the combustion chamber and may define a corresponding plurality of combustion-gas pathways fluidly communicating with at least a proximal portion of the combustion chamber. During operation, the combustor body may exhibit multi-stage combustion that includes a first combustion zone occupying a distal or medial position of the combustion chamber relative to the longitudinal axis, and a second combustion zone occupying a proximal position relative to the first combustion zone and a radially or concentrically outward position of the combustion chamber and/or a radially or concentrically inward position of the plurality of combustion-gas pathways.

A monolithic combustor body may provide multi-stage combustion. A combustor body may include a combustion chamber body and a plurality of heating walls that include a heat sink. The combustion chamber body may be disposed annularly about a longitudinal axis and defining a combustion chamber. The plurality of heating walls may include heat sink. The plurality of heating walls may occupy a radially or concentrically outward position relative to the combustion chamber and may define a corresponding plurality of combustion-gas pathways fluidly communicating with at least a proximal portion of the combustion chamber. During operation, the combustor body may exhibit multi-stage combustion that includes a first combustion zone occupying a distal or medial position of the combustion chamber relative to the longitudinal axis, and a second combustion zone occupying a proximal position relative to the first combustion zone and a radially or concentrically outward position of the combustion chamber and/or a radially or concentrically inward position of the plurality of combustion-gas pathways.

A thermal energy storage apparatus, including: a block of a heat-absorbing material, the block defining at least one receptacle and being a contiguous block of compressed sintered graphite; and a phase change material stored in the or each receptacle, the phase change material being one that expands as it cools, wherein separation of side walls of the or each receptacle progressively increases as they extend upwardly from the base, whereby as the phase change material solidifies and expands it is urged upwardly to reduce pressure applied to the heat-absorbing material.

A thermal energy storage apparatus, including: a block of a heat-absorbing material, the block defining at least one receptacle and being a contiguous block of compressed sintered graphite; and a phase change material stored in the or each receptacle, the phase change material being one that expands as it cools, wherein separation of side walls of the or each receptacle progressively increases as they extend upwardly from the base, whereby as the phase change material solidifies and expands it is urged upwardly to reduce pressure applied to the heat-absorbing material.

An alpha type Stirling engine (1) comprises an expansion cylinder (2) and a compression cylinder (3), a regenerator (4), a cooler (5), and a heater (6). Each one of the expansion cylinder (2) and the compression cylinder (3) has a movable piston (10, 11) connected to a respective linear electric generator/motor (8, 9), wherein the Stirling engine (1) further comprises a control unit (20) which is operatively connected to the linear electric generators/motors (8, 9) and which is configured to control the linear electric generators/motors (8, 9) individually so as to enable a different stroke length and/or motion profile of the piston (10) in the expansion cylinder (2) compared to the piston (11) in the compression cylinder (3).

An alpha type Stirling engine (1) comprises an expansion cylinder (2) and a compression cylinder (3), a regenerator (4), a cooler (5), and a heater (6). Each one of the expansion cylinder (2) and the compression cylinder (3) has a movable piston (10, 11) connected to a respective linear electric generator/motor (8, 9), wherein the Stirling engine (1) further comprises a control unit (20) which is operatively connected to the linear electric generators/motors (8, 9) and which is configured to control the linear electric generators/motors (8, 9) individually so as to enable a different stroke length and/or motion profile of the piston (10) in the expansion cylinder (2) compared to the piston (11) in the compression cylinder (3).

A constant density heat exchanger is provided. The constant density heat exchanger includes a housing extending between a first end and a second end and defining a chamber having an inlet and an outlet. A first flow control device is positioned at the inlet of the chamber and movable between an open position in which a working fluid is permitted into the chamber and a closed position in which the working fluid is prevented from entering the chamber. A second flow control device is positioned at the outlet of the chamber and movable between an open position in which the working fluid is permitted to exit the chamber and a closed position in which the working fluid is prevented from exiting the chamber. A heat exchange fluid imparts thermal energy to the volume of working fluid held at constant density within the chamber by the first and second control devices.