A vacuum pump comprises: a pump main body; a heater provided at the pump main body; a power source device configured to supply power to the pump main body; a cooler provided between the pump main body and the power source device; a connection plate provided between the pump main body and the cooler; a first heat insulating plate arranged between the cooler and the connection plate; and a second heat insulating plate arranged between the pump main body and the connection plate.

A vacuum pump comprises: a pump main body; a heater provided at the pump main body; a power source device configured to supply power to the pump main body; a cooler provided between the pump main body and the power source device; a connection plate provided between the pump main body and the cooler; a first heat insulating plate arranged between the cooler and the connection plate; and a second heat insulating plate arranged between the pump main body and the connection plate.

A constant density heat exchanger and system for energy conversion 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 as the first flow control device and the second flow control device hold the volume of working fluid at constant density within the chamber.

A constant density heat exchanger and system for energy conversion 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 as the first flow control device and the second flow control device hold the volume of working fluid at constant density within the chamber.

Various embodiments of a generator system featuring a condenser which converts waste heat from a heat pump into electricity are disclosed herein.

A device is disclosed herein which provides a domed cover of a combustion chamber enclosure applicable for use in Stirling Cycle engines, Ericsson Cycle engines, Rankine Cycle engines or other external combustion heat engine types which allows for the free flow of combustion air from the outer margins of the device toward the combustion air inlet in a vortexual fluid flow to achieve a more balanced stoichiometric ratio of the fuel/air mixture before ignition. This may be achieved by the employment of vanes to direct combustion air in a swirling vortexual flow as the combustion air enters the combustion chamber. Thermal barrier coatings and insulative materials may also be employed to minimize parasitic heat loss.

A device is disclosed herein which provides a domed cover of a combustion chamber enclosure applicable for use in Stirling Cycle engines, Ericsson Cycle engines, Rankine Cycle engines or other external combustion heat engine types which allows for the free flow of combustion air from the outer margins of the device toward the combustion air inlet in a vortexual fluid flow to achieve a more balanced stoichiometric ratio of the fuel/air mixture before ignition. This may be achieved by the employment of vanes to direct combustion air in a swirling vortexual flow as the combustion air enters the combustion chamber. Thermal barrier coatings and insulative materials may also be employed to minimize parasitic heat loss.

The invention relates to a liquid air energy storage system. The storage system includes a cryocooler, a dewar, and a Sterling engine. The cryocooler cools a tip of a cold head to cryogenic temperatures, the cryocooler further includes a heat sink to reject heat from the cryocooler and a cold head that protrudes into a dewar through a cryocooler cavity, the cold head to condense ambient air to create liquified air in the dewar. The dewar holds the liquified air at low temperatures, the dewar having the cryocooler cavity and a Stirling cavity. The Stirling engine drives an electric generator, the Stirling engine further including a cold finger protruding into the dewar through the Stirling cavity, the cold finger to move the liquified air from the dewar to a Stirling heat sink; the Stirling heat sink to expand the liquified air; and the electric generator to generate output electricity.

The invention relates to a liquid air energy storage system. The storage system includes a cryocooler, a dewar, and a Sterling engine. The cryocooler cools a tip of a cold head to cryogenic temperatures, the cryocooler further includes a heat sink to reject heat from the cryocooler and a cold head that protrudes into a dewar through a cryocooler cavity, the cold head to condense ambient air to create liquified air in the dewar. The dewar holds the liquified air at low temperatures, the dewar having the cryocooler cavity and a Stirling cavity. The Stirling engine drives an electric generator, the Stirling engine further including a cold finger protruding into the dewar through the Stirling cavity, the cold finger to move the liquified air from the dewar to a Stirling heat sink; the Stirling heat sink to expand the liquified air; and the electric generator to generate output electricity.

A heat exchanger with a monocoque structure transfers heat between a first fluid and a second fluid. The heat exchanger in has a plurality of tubes through which the first fluid may flow in a direction, each of the plurality of tubes has a first mouth end, an N opposing second mouth end and a waist region between the first mouth end and the second mouth end. The heat exchanger also has one or more interconnected fluid channels through which the second fluid may flow, the one or more fluid channels lay generally in a plane, the plurality of tubes and the one or more fluid channels interleave such that heat may be transferred between the plurality of tubes and the one or more fluid channels, and the direction of flow of the first fluid is generally perpendicular to the plane of the one or more fluid channels.