A cooling device implementing a stirling-type thermodynamic cycle includes a compressor with a reciprocating piston driven by an electric motor rotating about an axis via a crankshaft. The electric motor comprises an internal stator and an external rotor and is connected to the crankshaft via a link with at least one degree of freedom in rotation about the axis of the electric motor.

A cooling device employing a thermodynamic cycle of the reverse stirling cycle type is provided. The device includes a compressor with a reciprocating piston driven by a rotary motor about an axis by means of a crankshaft. The device further comprises a monobloc support forming a cylinder in which the piston of the compressor moves. The crankshaft is supported by a single bearing. The bearing is positioned without an intermediate component in a housing of the monobloc support.

A method and apparatus that reduces the dead volume in a heat engine or heat pump, such as a duplex Stirling or Vuilleumier cycle device, by nesting the components of the displacer and regenerator such that nearly all working fluid is purged from the interstices of the regenerator elements and all other working fluid spaces that are not involved in doing useful work at each portion of the cycle. Particularly, a more scalable and efficient method and apparatus for providing solar air conditioning or refrigeration by means of a heated cylinder that alternately pressurizes and depressurizes a separate cooling cylinder by directly transferring thermally induced pressure changes to that cooling cylinder at optimized times in the cycle, under the control of a numerically controlled actuation system that can cycle at a much lower rate than mechanically coupled or harmonically phased systems.

A method and apparatus that reduces the dead volume in a heat engine or heat pump, such as a duplex Stirling or Vuilleumier cycle device, by nesting the components of the displacer and regenerator such that nearly all working fluid is purged from the interstices of the regenerator elements and all other working fluid spaces that are not involved in doing useful work at each portion of the cycle. Particularly, a more scalable and efficient method and apparatus for providing solar air conditioning or refrigeration by means of a heated cylinder that alternately pressurizes and depressurizes a separate cooling cylinder by directly transferring thermally induced pressure changes to that cooling cylinder at optimized times in the cycle, under the control of a numerically controlled actuation system that can cycle at a much lower rate than mechanically coupled or harmonically phased systems.

A rotating machine is disclosed and includes a stator defining a circumference, a plurality of first magnet arrays, a rotor, and a first piston. The first magnet arrays are comprised of a plurality of discrete magnets arranged around the circumference of the stator in a first magnetic pattern. The rotor is rotatable about an axis of rotation and defines a main body. The main body defines a first passageway. The first piston includes a plurality of first magnetic elements and is actuated within the first passageway of the rotor. The plurality of discrete magnets are arranged in the first magnetic pattern and are positioned to interact with the magnetic elements of the first piston to create a first magnetic force as the rotor rotates about the axis of rotation. The first magnetic force represents a first amount of force required to actuate the first piston.

A rotating machine is disclosed and includes a stator defining a circumference, a plurality of first magnet arrays, a rotor, and a first piston. The first magnet arrays are comprised of a plurality of discrete magnets arranged around the circumference of the stator in a first magnetic pattern. The rotor is rotatable about an axis of rotation and defines a main body. The main body defines a first passageway. The first piston includes a plurality of first magnetic elements and is actuated within the first passageway of the rotor. The plurality of discrete magnets are arranged in the first magnetic pattern and are positioned to interact with the magnetic elements of the first piston to create a first magnetic force as the rotor rotates about the axis of rotation. The first magnetic force represents a first amount of force required to actuate the first piston.

A monolithic heat exchanger body for inputting heat to a closed-cycle engine includes heating walls and heat sink, such as heat transfer regions. The heating walls are configured and arranged in an array of spirals or spiral arcs relative to a longitudinal axis of an inlet plenum. Adjacent portions of the heating walls respectively define corresponding heating fluid pathways fluidly communicating with the inlet plenum. At least a portion of the heat sink is disposed about at least a portion of the monolithic heat exchanger body. The heat sink includes working-fluid bodies including working-fluid pathways that have a heat transfer relationship with the heating fluid pathways. Respective ones of the heat transfer regions have a heat transfer relationship with a corresponding semiannular portion of the heating fluid pathways. Respective ones of the heat transfer regions include working-fluid pathways fluidly communicating between a heat input region and a heat extraction region.

A monolithic heat exchanger body for inputting heat to a closed-cycle engine includes heating walls and heat sink, such as heat transfer regions. The heating walls are configured and arranged in an array of spirals or spiral arcs relative to a longitudinal axis of an inlet plenum. Adjacent portions of the heating walls respectively define corresponding heating fluid pathways fluidly communicating with the inlet plenum. At least a portion of the heat sink is disposed about at least a portion of the monolithic heat exchanger body. The heat sink includes working-fluid bodies including working-fluid pathways that have a heat transfer relationship with the heating fluid pathways. Respective ones of the heat transfer regions have a heat transfer relationship with a corresponding semiannular portion of the heating fluid pathways. Respective ones of the heat transfer regions include working-fluid pathways fluidly communicating between a heat input region and a heat extraction region.

An integrated wind and solar solution is provided, including a solar energy collection assembly (100) and a vertical axis wind turbine (400), combined to provide an integrated power output. In preferred embodiments, the vertical axis wind turbine is positioned above the solar energy collection assembly. Concentrating solar mirror collectors (116) are used to direct sunlight to a heat engine (250), which converts the collected heat energy into rotary motion. Rotary motion from the heat engine and from the vertical axis wind turbine preferably are on the same rotating axis (600), to facilitate load sharing between these two sources. A dual axis azimuth-altitude solar panel alignment tracking system is used in order to boost the energy conversion capability of the solar energy collectors.

An integrated wind and solar solution is provided, including a solar energy collection assembly (100) and a vertical axis wind turbine (400), combined to provide an integrated power output. In preferred embodiments, the vertical axis wind turbine is positioned above the solar energy collection assembly. Concentrating solar mirror collectors (116) are used to direct sunlight to a heat engine (250), which converts the collected heat energy into rotary motion. Rotary motion from the heat engine and from the vertical axis wind turbine preferably are on the same rotating axis (600), to facilitate load sharing between these two sources. A dual axis azimuth-altitude solar panel alignment tracking system is used in order to boost the energy conversion capability of the solar energy collectors.