Electroactive polymer expansion power cycle (100) converts thermal energy contained in working fluid (20) to electrical energy. Electroactive polymer expansion power cycle (100) comprises a pump (110), a boiler (120), a boiler electroactive polymer reservoir (130), an expansion electroactive polymer reservoir assembly (140), and a condenser (150). The boiler electroactive polymer assembly (140) is comprised of a transducer (10), that generates electricity resulting from the inflation and deflation of the boiler electroactive polymer reservoir (130). Transducer (10) is comprised of one or more polymer spacers (502) sandwiched between one or more top electrodes (504) and bottom electrode (506) pairs. The electroactive polymer assembly (140) is comprised of one or more electroactive polymer reservoirs that are similar in design to the boiler electroactive polymer assembly (130). These electroactive polymer reservoirs generate electricity through the same process as the electricity generated by the boiler electroactive polymer reservoir (140).

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a method for converting energy. The method comprises receiving energy from an external source, using the received energy for inducing a mass exchange process to release thermodynamic energy, and converting the thermodynamic energy directly into electrical energy at sufficient amount for performing work therewith. In some embodiments of the present invention, a portion of the released energy is converted to a pressure wave, and the mechanical energy constituted by the pressure wave is converted to non-mechanical energy.

Electroactive polymer expansion power cycle (100) converts thermal energy contained in working fluid (20) to electrical energy. Electroactive polymer expansion power cycle (100) comprises a pump (110), a boiler (120), a boiler electroactive polymer reservoir (130), an expansion electroactive polymer reservoir assembly (140), and a condenser (150). The boiler electroactive polymer assembly (140) is comprised of a transducer (10), that generates electricity resulting from the inflation and deflation of the boiler electroactive polymer reservoir (130). Transducer (10) is comprised of one or more polymer spacers (502) sandwiched between one or more top electrodes (504) and bottom electrode (506) pairs. The electroactive polymer assembly (140) is comprised of one or more electroactive polymer reservoirs that are similar in design to the boiler electroactive polymer assembly (130). These electroactive polymer reservoirs generate electricity through the same process as the electricity generated by the boiler electroactive polymer reservoir (140)

A thermoacoustic heating device capable of effectively utilizing streaming, and including a prime mover in a first pipeline that forms a loop line, and a heating device in a second pipeline that forms another loop line. The first and second pipelines are connected to each other via a branch pipeline. A branch pipeline on the prime mover side and the second pipeline on the heating device side are positioned adjacent to each other, and a low-temperature side heat exchanger of the heating device is integrally formed with or held in contact with the branch pipeline on the prime mover side.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a method for converting energy. The method comprises receiving energy from an external source, using the received energy for inducing a mass exchange process to release thermodynamic energy, and converting the thermodynamic energy directly into electrical energy at sufficient amount for performing work therewith. In some embodiments of the present invention, a portion of the released energy is converted to a pressure wave, and the mechanical energy constituted by the pressure wave is converted to non-mechanical energy.

System and method for converting energy; the system comprising: an acoustic resonator; a phase-exchange device configured for forming across a section of said resonator a concentration gradient of a first substance in a gaseous medium contained by said resonator, to thereby generate a pressure wave within said resonator; and a conversion device for converting mechanical energy constituted by said pressure wave to non-mechanical energy.