A regenerator of a regenerative refrigerator includes: a magnetic regenerator material used for cold storage; and a container that accommodates the magnetic regenerator material. A part of the container that accommodates the magnetic regenerator material includes: a first region that includes a temperature range in which a specific heat of the magnetic regenerator material reaches maximum during an operation of the regenerative refrigerator, and a second region that is in a temperature range different from that of the first region. A cross sectional area of a part of the first region that accommodates the magnetic regenerator material is smaller than a cross sectional area of a part of the second region that accommodates the magnetic regenerator material.

A regenerator of a regenerative refrigerator includes: a magnetic regenerator material used for cold storage; and a container that accommodates the magnetic regenerator material. A part of the container that accommodates the magnetic regenerator material includes: a first region that includes a temperature range in which a specific heat of the magnetic regenerator material reaches maximum during an operation of the regenerative refrigerator, and a second region that is in a temperature range different from that of the first region. A cross sectional area of a part of the first region that accommodates the magnetic regenerator material is smaller than a cross sectional area of a part of the second region that accommodates the magnetic regenerator material.

An external combustion engine including a burner element, a heater head, a piston cylinder containing a piston, a cooler and a crankcase. The crankcase includes a crankshaft, a piston rod connected to the piston, a drive mechanism for converting the linear motion of the piston rod to rotary motion of the crankshaft and a linear cross-head bearing that is connected rigidly to the piston rod at one end and to the drive mechanism at the other end. Also the external combustion engine includes a piston clearance seal and a piston rod seal unit that has floating rod seals. The piston includes a inner dome to reduce axial heat transfer via radiation and convection.

A free piston Stirling engine with a heat exchanger that has an inner component part assembled within an outer component part. The outer component part has a tubular outer wall and circumferentially spaced ridges that extend radially inward from the tubular outer wall and are separated from each other by inward opening slots. The inner component part has a tubular inner wall and circumferentially spaced ridges that extend outward from the inner tubular wall and are separated from each other by outward opening slots. The ridge widths of the outer and inner component parts are less than the slot widths of the corresponding slots into which they fit. The two component parts are assembled with the ridges of each component part extending into the slots of the other component part to form gas passages between interfacing sidewall surfaces of the ridges.

A Stirling cycle machine. The machine includes at least one rocking drive mechanism including 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. The drive mechanism includes at least one coupling assembly. 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.

High temperature thermal energy exchange system with horizontal heat exchange chamber and method for exchanging thermal energy by using the high temperature thermal energy exchange system

A high temperature thermal energy exchange (heat) exchange system is provided. The high temperature thermal energy exchange system comprises at least one horizontal heat exchange chamber with chamber boundaries which surround at least one heat exchange chamber interior of the heat exchange chamber, wherein the chamber boundaries comprise at least one inlet opening for guiding in an inflow of at least one heat transfer fluid into the heat exchange chamber interior and at least one outlet opening for guiding out an outflow of the heat transfer fluid out of the heat exchange chamber interior, at least one heat storage material is arranged in the heat exchange chamber interior such that a heat exchange flow of the heat transfer fluid through the heat exchange chamber interior causes a heat exchange between the heat storage material and the heat transfer fluid and the heat high temperature thermal energy exchange system is developed such that horizontal heat exchange flows of the heat transfer fluid through the heat exchange chamber interior differ from each other in vertical direction. The horizontal heat exchange flows are different in vertical direction of the heat exchange chamber. The heat transfer fluid is led into heat exchange channels via the inlet openings and is led out of the heat exchange channels via the outlet openings. Preferably, the heat transfer fluid is air with ambient pressure. An operating temperature of the high temperature thermal energy exchange system is more than 600° C.

High temperature thermal energy exchange system with horizontal heat exchange chamber and method for exchanging thermal energy by using the high temperature thermal energy exchange system

A high temperature thermal energy exchange (heat) exchange system is provided. The high temperature thermal energy exchange system comprises at least one horizontal heat exchange chamber with chamber boundaries which surround at least one heat exchange chamber interior of the heat exchange chamber, wherein the chamber boundaries comprise at least one inlet opening for guiding in an inflow of at least one heat transfer fluid into the heat exchange chamber interior and at least one outlet opening for guiding out an outflow of the heat transfer fluid out of the heat exchange chamber interior, at least one heat storage material is arranged in the heat exchange chamber interior such that a heat exchange flow of the heat transfer fluid through the heat exchange chamber interior causes a heat exchange between the heat storage material and the heat transfer fluid and the heat high temperature thermal energy exchange system is developed such that horizontal heat exchange flows of the heat transfer fluid through the heat exchange chamber interior differ from each other in vertical direction. The horizontal heat exchange flows are different in vertical direction of the heat exchange chamber. The heat transfer fluid is led into heat exchange channels via the inlet openings and is led out of the heat exchange channels via the outlet openings. Preferably, the heat transfer fluid is air with ambient pressure. An operating temperature of the high temperature thermal energy exchange system is more than 600° C.

A power plant with at least one steam cycle and with at least one high temperature thermal energy (heat) exchange system is provided. The high temperature thermal energy exchange system includes at least one heat exchange chamber with chamber boundaries which surround at least one heat exchange chamber interior of the heat exchange chamber. The chamber boundaries include at least one inlet opening for guiding in an inflow of at least one heat transfer fluid into the heat exchange chamber interior and at least one outlet opening for guiding out an outflow of the heat transfer fluid out of the heat exchange chamber interior; at least one heat storage material is arranged in the heat exchange chamber interior such that a heat exchange flow of the heat transfer fluid through the heat exchange chamber interior causes a heat exchange between the heat storage material and the heat transfer fluid.

A power plant with at least one steam cycle and with at least one high temperature thermal energy (heat) exchange system is provided. The high temperature thermal energy exchange system includes at least one heat exchange chamber with chamber boundaries which surround at least one heat exchange chamber interior of the heat exchange chamber. The chamber boundaries include at least one inlet opening for guiding in an inflow of at least one heat transfer fluid into the heat exchange chamber interior and at least one outlet opening for guiding out an outflow of the heat transfer fluid out of the heat exchange chamber interior; at least one heat storage material is arranged in the heat exchange chamber interior such that a heat exchange flow of the heat transfer fluid through the heat exchange chamber interior causes a heat exchange between the heat storage material and the heat transfer fluid.

A process for the removal of nitrous oxide from a gas stream having a contaminating concentration of nitrous oxide to provide a gas stream with a significantly reduced concentration of nitrous oxide is described. The process includes the use of a process system having multiple N.sub.2O decomposition reactors each of which contain a nitrous oxide decomposition catalyst and heat transfer units each of which contain a heat sink media that are operatively connected in a particular order and arrangement for use in the process. The gas stream is passed to the process system that is operated for a period of time in a specific operating mode followed by the stopping of such operation and reversal of the process flow. These steps may be repeatedly taken in order to provide for an enhanced energy recovery efficiency for a given nitrous oxide destruction removal efficiency.