A working cylinder is provided, comprising at least one disc-like displacer (120) rotatably supported in a cylindrical block (114), which displacer (120) is arranged between two annular flanges (110) extending radially inwards from said block (114) on each sides of said displacer (120) such that said displacer (120) will be arranged in parallel with said flanges (110) upon rotation, wherein at least one of said flanges (110) comprises a plurality of sections including a first section (112a) having a first temperature, a second section (112b) having a second temperature being lower than said first temperature, and two insulating sections (112c, 112d) completely preventing contact between said first section (112a) and said second section (112b), and wherein said displacer (120) comprises a cutout (122) for rotating a volume of working fluid across the sections (112), which cutout is dimensioned such that for every rotational position it does not overlap the first section (112a) and the second section (112b) at the same time.

An engine comprising: a sealed and rigid case containing a liquid and a work mixture of gas and steam from the liquid, a heat source able to heat the liquid, a cold source able to cool the work mixture, a movable device positioned within the case, which can move between a first position where the movable device minimize the contact between the work mixture and the cold source, and maximize the contact between the liquid and the work mixture, and a second position where the movable device maximize the contact between the work mixture and the cold source, and minimize the contact between the liquid and the work mixture, an actuator able to move the movable device from the first position to the second position and vice versa.

A thermal energy recovery system. The system includes a Stirling engine having a burner thermal energy output. Also, a superheater mechanism for heating the thermal energy output and an expansion engine coupled to a generator. The expansion engine converts the thermal energy output from the burner to mechanical energy output. The generator converts mechanical energy output from the expansion engine to electrical energy output. The expansion engine may also includes vapor output. Some embodiments of the system further include a condenser for condensing the vapor output, a pump for pumping the vapor output and a boiler in fluid communication with the pump. The pump pumps the vapor output to the boiler.

A thermal energy recovery system. The system includes a Stirling engine having a burner thermal energy output. Also, a superheater mechanism for heating the thermal energy output and an expansion engine coupled to a generator. The expansion engine converts the thermal energy output from the burner to mechanical energy output. The generator converts mechanical energy output from the expansion engine to electrical energy output. The expansion engine may also includes vapor output. Some embodiments of the system further include a condenser for condensing the vapor output, a pump for pumping the vapor output and a boiler in fluid communication with the pump. The pump pumps the vapor output to the boiler.

A vehicle is provided which includes an engine and a radiator. The radiator with circulating coolant fluid includes a plurality of embedded heat pipes each having (a) a body with first and second opposing ends, (b) a wicking material, and (c) a thermal transfer fluid, wherein said body of said heat pipe encloses an interior volume, and wherein said wicking material and said working fluid are disposed in said interior volume of said heat pipe. The first end of the heat pipe extracts heat from the engine, and the second end of the heat pipe transfers heat from the heat pipe to an atmosphere external to the engine. The heat transfer fluid transfers heat from the first end of said heat pipe to the second end of said heat pipe, and the wicking material transfers the heat transfer fluid from the second end of the heat pipe to the first end of the heat pipe.

A Stirling engine comprising: a crank case (1) with a crank shaft (2) arranged therein, a displacer cylinder (3) with a reciprocatingly arranged displacer piston (4) therein, said displacer piston (4) being connected to said crank shaft (2) via a connecting rod (5) extending through a first end of said displacer cylinder (3), and wherein the displacer cylinder (3) defines a hot chamber (6) and a cool chamber (7) separated by the displacer piston (4), a working cylinder (8) defining a working cylinder chamber (11) with a reciprocatingly arranged working piston (9) therein, said working piston (9) being connected to said crank shaft (2) via a connecting rod (10) extending through a first end of the working cylinder (8), a heater device (14), arranged at a second end of said displacer cylinder (3) opposite to said first end and configured to heat a working gas which is present in the hot chamber (6) of the displacer cylinder (3) and in fluid communication with the working cylinder chamber (11) through a working gas channel which comprises a first heat exchanger (16) extending from a head (19) of the displacer cylinder (3) into the heater device (14), and a second heat exchanger (17) formed by a regenerator arranged outside the heater device (14). The regenerator (17) comprises a regenerator element (17) formed by metal foam that has an open porosity.

A Stirling engine comprising: a crank case (1) with a crank shaft (2) arranged therein, a displacer cylinder (3) with a reciprocatingly arranged displacer piston (4) therein, said displacer piston (4) being connected to said crank shaft (2) via a connecting rod (5) extending through a first end of said displacer cylinder (3), and wherein the displacer cylinder (3) defines a hot chamber (6) and a cool chamber (7) separated by the displacer piston (4), a working cylinder (8) defining a working cylinder chamber (11) with a reciprocatingly arranged working piston (9) therein, said working piston (9) being connected to said crank shaft (2) via a connecting rod (10) extending through a first end of the working cylinder (8), a heater device (14), arranged at a second end of said displacer cylinder (3) opposite to said first end and configured to heat a working gas which is present in the hot chamber (6) of the displacer cylinder (3) and in fluid communication with the working cylinder chamber (11) through a working gas channel which comprises a first heat exchanger (16) extending from a head (19) of the displacer cylinder (3) into the heater device (14), and a second heat exchanger (17) formed by a regenerator arranged outside the heater device (14). The regenerator (17) comprises a regenerator element (17) formed by metal foam that has an open porosity.

A Stirling engine includes a working cylinder defining a working cylinder chamber with a reciprocatingly-arranged working piston and a heater fluidly communicating with the working cylinder chamber through a working gas channel. The engine includes a first heat exchanger extending from a head of a displacer cylinder into the heater, a second heat exchanger formed by a regenerator arranged outside the heater, and a third heat exchanger formed by a cooler arranged between the regenerator and the working cylinder chamber. At any point along the working gas channel, as seen cross-wise to an assumed working gas flow direction through the working gas channel, the cross section area of the working gas channel defined by the first, second and third heat exchangers is within the range of the medium cross section area of the working gas channel +/−10%.

A Stirling engine includes a working cylinder defining a working cylinder chamber with a reciprocatingly-arranged working piston and a heater fluidly communicating with the working cylinder chamber through a working gas channel. The engine includes a first heat exchanger extending from a head of a displacer cylinder into the heater, a second heat exchanger formed by a regenerator arranged outside the heater, and a third heat exchanger formed by a cooler arranged between the regenerator and the working cylinder chamber. At any point along the working gas channel, as seen cross-wise to an assumed working gas flow direction through the working gas channel, the cross section area of the working gas channel defined by the first, second and third heat exchangers is within the range of the medium cross section area of the working gas channel +/−10%.

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.