A system for energy conversion, the system including a closed cycle engine containing a volume of working fluid, the engine comprising a first chamber defining an expansion chamber and a second chamber defining a compression chamber each separated by a piston attached to a connection member of a piston assembly, and wherein the engine comprises a heater body in thermal communication with the first chamber, and further wherein the engine comprises a cold side heat exchanger in thermal communication with the second chamber, and wherein a third chamber is defined within the piston, wherein the third chamber is in selective flow communication with the first chamber, the second chamber, or both.

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.

A Stirling engine includes: the thermosiphon that accommodates the heating medium receiving heat from a heat source; and an engine unit that has a body accommodating working gas. A heater that gives heat to the working gas by the heating medium is arranged in the body. The Stirling engine includes an engine controller that executes control for increasing an absorbed amount of thermal energy from the heating medium when at least one of the pressure and the temperature of the heating medium exceeds a predetermined value.

A Stirling engine includes: the thermosiphon that accommodates the heating medium receiving heat from a heat source; and an engine unit that has a body accommodating working gas. A heater that gives heat to the working gas by the heating medium is arranged in the body. The Stirling engine includes an engine controller that executes control for increasing an absorbed amount of thermal energy from the heating medium when at least one of the pressure and the temperature of the heating medium exceeds a predetermined value.

Implementations described and claimed herein provide systems and methods for generating continuous power. In one implementation, a system includes a heat source and a plurality of liquid piston tanks. The heat source is configured to convert heat input into a pressure. An inlet valve is provided for each of the plurality of liquid piston tanks. The inlet valve is configured to direct the pressure into a corresponding liquid piston tank displacing liquid in the corresponding liquid piston tank. A hydraulic device is configured to rotate upon application of a flow created by the displaced liquid. A generator is connected to the hydraulic device and configured to output energy created using the rotation of the hydraulic device. A condenser is configured to receive existing pressure from at least one of the plurality of liquid piston tanks via a release valve. The condenser condenses the existing pressure into a re-cycled liquid.

Implementations described and claimed herein provide systems and methods for generating continuous power. In one implementation, a system includes a heat source and a plurality of liquid piston tanks. The heat source is configured to convert heat input into a pressure. An inlet valve is provided for each of the plurality of liquid piston tanks. The inlet valve is configured to direct the pressure into a corresponding liquid piston tank displacing liquid in the corresponding liquid piston tank. A hydraulic device is configured to rotate upon application of a flow created by the displaced liquid. A generator is connected to the hydraulic device and configured to output energy created using the rotation of the hydraulic device. A condenser is configured to receive existing pressure from at least one of the plurality of liquid piston tanks via a release valve. The condenser condenses the existing pressure into a re-cycled liquid.

The present invention provides a heat medium circulation structure for a micro-combined heat and power (micro-CHP) generator in which a heat medium that primarily looses heat by undergoing heat exchange with water in a hot-water tank and thus has a low temperature further performs heat exchange with low-temperature direct water supplied through a direct water line, thereby further loosing heat, in a return line heat exchanger, and then returns to a stirling engine through a heat medium return line, thereby effectively cooling a low temperature portion of the stirling engine. Thus, the heat medium circulation structure enables high electricity production efficiency. Further provided is a hot water temperature control method for a micro-CHP generator in which the consumption of hot water is detected by a flow sensor. First and second predetermined temperatures are defined to operate a stirling engine in the case of temperature droppings of hot water respectively due to natural radiation and consumption of hot water.

The present invention provides a heat medium circulation structure for a micro-combined heat and power (micro-CHP) generator in which a heat medium that primarily looses heat by undergoing heat exchange with water in a hot-water tank and thus has a low temperature further performs heat exchange with low-temperature direct water supplied through a direct water line, thereby further loosing heat, in a return line heat exchanger, and then returns to a stirling engine through a heat medium return line, thereby effectively cooling a low temperature portion of the stirling engine. Thus, the heat medium circulation structure enables high electricity production efficiency. Further provided is a hot water temperature control method for a micro-CHP generator in which the consumption of hot water is detected by a flow sensor. First and second predetermined temperatures are defined to operate a stirling engine in the case of temperature droppings of hot water respectively due to natural radiation and consumption of hot water.

A heat engine includes two kinds of thermodynamic cycles, wherein a thermodynamic cycle 1 is composed of four processes: an isothermal exothermic compression process, an isochoric endothermic heating process, an isothermal endothermic expansion process and an isochoric exothermic cooling process, and the thermodynamic cycle 1 is composed of two loops, and the structure thereof includes a cylinder #1, a cylinder #2, a cylinder #3, a turbo expander or a double-shaft double-acting cylinder and an airproof container; and a thermodynamic cycle 2 is composed of three processes: an isothermal endothermic expansion and working process, an isobaric exothermic compression process and an isochoric endothermic heating process, and the thermodynamic cycle 2 is composed of two loops, and the structure thereof includes a heat insulating cylinder #1, a heat insulating cylinder #2, a condenser #1, a condenser #2, a cylinder #3, a turbo expander or a double-shaft double-acting cylinder and an airproof container.

A heat engine includes two kinds of thermodynamic cycles, wherein a thermodynamic cycle 1 is composed of four processes: an isothermal exothermic compression process, an isochoric endothermic heating process, an isothermal endothermic expansion process and an isochoric exothermic cooling process, and the thermodynamic cycle 1 is composed of two loops, and the structure thereof includes a cylinder #1, a cylinder #2, a cylinder #3, a turbo expander or a double-shaft double-acting cylinder and an airproof container; and a thermodynamic cycle 2 is composed of three processes: an isothermal endothermic expansion and working process, an isobaric exothermic compression process and an isochoric endothermic heating process, and the thermodynamic cycle 2 is composed of two loops, and the structure thereof includes a heat insulating cylinder #1, a heat insulating cylinder #2, a condenser #1, a condenser #2, a cylinder #3, a turbo expander or a double-shaft double-acting cylinder and an airproof container.