WO2003100240A1 - Moteur stirling multi-cylindre destine a la production d'energie electrique - Google Patents

Moteur stirling multi-cylindre destine a la production d'energie electrique Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2003100240A1
WO2003100240A1 PCT/US2003/016473 US0316473W WO03100240A1 WO 2003100240 A1 WO2003100240 A1 WO 2003100240A1 US 0316473 W US0316473 W US 0316473W WO 03100240 A1 WO03100240 A1 WO 03100240A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
piston
stirling engine
accordance
engine
pistons
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/US2003/016473
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English (en)
Inventor
Lennart Johansson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
STM Power Inc
Original Assignee
STM Power Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by STM Power Inc filed Critical STM Power Inc
Priority to AU2003239866A priority Critical patent/AU2003239866A1/en
Publication of WO2003100240A1 publication Critical patent/WO2003100240A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02G—HOT GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT ENGINE PLANTS; USE OF WASTE HEAT OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F02G1/00—Hot gas positive-displacement engine plants
    • F02G1/04—Hot gas positive-displacement engine plants of closed-cycle type
    • F02G1/043—Hot gas positive-displacement engine plants of closed-cycle type the engine being operated by expansion and contraction of a mass of working gas which is heated and cooled in one of a plurality of constantly communicating expansible chambers, e.g. Stirling cycle type engines
    • F02G1/044—Hot gas positive-displacement engine plants of closed-cycle type the engine being operated by expansion and contraction of a mass of working gas which is heated and cooled in one of a plurality of constantly communicating expansible chambers, e.g. Stirling cycle type engines having at least two working members, e.g. pistons, delivering power output
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02G—HOT GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT ENGINE PLANTS; USE OF WASTE HEAT OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F02G1/00—Hot gas positive-displacement engine plants
    • F02G1/04—Hot gas positive-displacement engine plants of closed-cycle type
    • F02G1/043—Hot gas positive-displacement engine plants of closed-cycle type the engine being operated by expansion and contraction of a mass of working gas which is heated and cooled in one of a plurality of constantly communicating expansible chambers, e.g. Stirling cycle type engines
    • F02G1/045—Controlling
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02G—HOT GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT ENGINE PLANTS; USE OF WASTE HEAT OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F02G1/00—Hot gas positive-displacement engine plants
    • F02G1/04—Hot gas positive-displacement engine plants of closed-cycle type
    • F02G1/043—Hot gas positive-displacement engine plants of closed-cycle type the engine being operated by expansion and contraction of a mass of working gas which is heated and cooled in one of a plurality of constantly communicating expansible chambers, e.g. Stirling cycle type engines
    • F02G1/053—Component parts or details
    • F02G1/057—Regenerators
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02G—HOT GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT ENGINE PLANTS; USE OF WASTE HEAT OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F02G2244/00—Machines having two pistons
    • F02G2244/50—Double acting piston machines
    • F02G2244/52—Double acting piston machines having interconnecting adjacent cylinders constituting a single system, e.g. "Rinia" engines

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a Stirling cycle engine and particularly to such an engine of a double acting multiple-cylinder configuration using linear motors/alternators to control motion of the displacer pistons and extract electrical power from the engine.
  • the basic Stirling engine device is based on a concept first disclosed in a patent registered in 1817 by Robert Stirling, a Scottish clergyman. It was an effort to develop a safer and more efficient alternative to steam engines. He envisioned an engine where air is shuttled back and forth between two portions of the machine where volume and pressure changes occur, one maintained at high temperature and the other maintained at a low temperature, thus providing power.
  • the Stirling engine is based on the same thermodynamic principle as the internal combustion engine, namely, if gas is compressed at low temperature and then is heated and allowed to expand, mechanical energy is produced.
  • the internal combustion engine namely, if gas is compressed at low temperature and then is heated and allowed to expand, mechanical energy is produced.
  • Stirling engines are operated on a closed thermodynamic cycle, they are reversible in terms of their thermodynamic output. In one configuration, heat is absorbed by the engine and converted to mechanical work through a rotating shaft. In another operating condition, mechanical power input can be converted to thermal outputs in the terms of cooling or heating.
  • the working gas which in modern Stirling engines is typically helium or hydrogen, is shuttled from a space where it is at a constant high temperature into a space at which it is a constant low temperature. In order to obtain mechanical energy from this process, the working gas must be compressed where it is mainly in the cold space and allowed to expand where it is mainly in the hot space.
  • regenerator In order not to lose heat during this shuttling process, a regenerator is placed between the hot and cold spaces.
  • a regenerator is a space filled with course material, such as layers of very fine metallic gauze. The material captures the heat of the gas as it flows from the hot space to the cold space, and returns its heat to the gas on its way back to the hot space.
  • kinematic drive systems including the rhombic drives of single cylinder machines and swashplate drives of multiple cylinder, double-acting machines operate satisfactorily, they have a number of limitations.
  • kinematic drive systems generally require some sealing mechanism which enables a rotating shaft or other linearly moving element to pass between areas of atmospheric pressure on one side and the working fluid of the Stirling engine on the other which is at a high pressure.
  • These sealing devices are costly, high-precision subassemblies required due to the propensity of the working gases, helium and especially hydrogen, to defuse through the sealing mechanisms.
  • a fourth shortcoming is attributable to the fact that mechanical drive systems typically either have a fixed displacement or stroke, or complex mechanisms are needed to cause changes in displacement.
  • the swept volume or displacement of the Stirling engine is directly related to its output capacity. In operating environments where transient load conditions exist, load following systems are needed. Such systems which require displacement changes through mechanical linkages may not provide sufficient transient response characteristics in some applications.
  • the Stirling engine in accordance with the present invention is of the multiple-cylinder, double-acting configuration. Rather than using a mechanical kinematic linkage system to control the motion of the cylinder piston and extract power, the motion of each cylinder piston and energy output from the device is derived from a linear motor/alternator coupled with each of the pistons. Since precise phase control and displacement control for each piston is necessary, each of the linear motor/alternators is controlled to positively drive the pistons to provide the proper phase and displacement, but also provides excess electrical energy through phases of its motion. This generated electricity is used as an energy source for other devices and comprises the primary energy output of the engine.
  • the engine in accordance with the present invention provides a number of advantages which address the previously noted shortcomings of kinematic drive systems.
  • the drive system may operate without oil lubrication, making it suitable for outer space or other applications.
  • Third, the entire device, including the motor/alternators, can be enclosed in a pressure vessel meaning that losses of working fluid are minimized. Electrical energy and signals can be transferred to the machine and external loads without creating working gas leakage paths. And finally, precise load following variable displacement with high transient response is provided by this approach.
  • the engine of the present invention has numerous potential applications, including for use in deep space vehicles which may be powered by a carried radioactive fuel. Other applications include solar power electricity generation, motor vehicle prime movers, and many others.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a conventional four cylinder, double acting Stirling engine configuration
  • Figure 2 is a cross sectional view through a Stirling engine in accordance with this invention.
  • Figure 3 is a pressure-volume diaphragm illustrating cycle pressure and volume changes through operation of the engine.
  • FIG. 1 provides a schematic illustration of a prior art Stirling engine configuration identified by reference number 10.
  • Stirling engine 10 is a four-cylinder, double-acting type.
  • each cylinder 12 includes a displacer or piston 14.
  • Connected with each piston 14 is an associated connecting rod 16.
  • the top of each cylinder 12 is connected by a gas flow path with a heater 18.
  • Gas flowing through the heater is also connected with regenerator 20 and cooler 22, which is in-turn connected with the lower portion of an adjacent cylinder 12.
  • the cylinders 12 are arranged in a square cluster as described by the previously identified patents incorporated by reference herein.
  • four isolated volumes of working gas are created.
  • these enclosed volumes of gas are shuttled between the hot space of the engine, represented by the region above each piston 14 together with the heater 18, and the cool space, represented by the volume below each piston 14 together with the cooler 22.
  • each piston 14 through each connecting rod 16 is provided by a kinematic drive system which produces a sine wave motion for each piston 14 and acts to couple generated forces from the pistons to a load.
  • this motion is created by a swashplate as described previously.
  • the swashplate surface moves and forces the connecting rod 16 to move in a controlled manner through a cross-head schematically illustrated at 24.
  • a 90° phase difference between each adjacent cylinder is provided by the kinematic drive system.
  • Stirling engine 30 is of the double-acting type and is shown in Figure 2 as a cross sectional view through two of the four cylinders of the machine.
  • Stirling engine 30 includes cylinder block 32 which forms cylinder bores 34.
  • Pistons 36 reciprocate in bores 34 in a cyclic motion and include a top hollow dome portion 38.
  • Cylinder extensions 40 are mounted to cylinder block 32 in registry with cylinder bores 34.
  • Each piston includes connecting rod 42 which is mounted to move linearly by linear bearings 44 and 46.
  • Stirling engine 30 includes a gas flow system, not illustrated, which may include an associated cooler, regenerator, heater, and other elements, for flowing working gas into and out of bores 34, including extensions 40, both above and below pistons 36, in accordance with a double-acting drive mechanism.
  • a gas flow system not illustrated, which may include an associated cooler, regenerator, heater, and other elements, for flowing working gas into and out of bores 34, including extensions 40, both above and below pistons 36, in accordance with a double-acting drive mechanism.
  • Suitable systems are depicted schematically in Fig. 1 and described by the previously mentioned patents, which are incorporated by reference.
  • the associated heater is in the form of an external heating system, which may receive heat from combustion processes, solar energy, radioactive fuels, waste heat, or other sources.
  • each connecting rod 42 and associate piston 36 is controlled and power is extracted through electric motor/alternator 48, which includes a moving armature 50 and a stator in the form of field winding 52 disposed about the armature. Armature 50 moves in response to electrical currents applied to field winding 52 to drive the piston. Conversely, when the armature 50 is mechanically driven by cycle pressure forces applied to piston 36, electrical current is generated within field winding 52. Controller 54 applies modulated electrical signals to field winding 52 to intermittently drive the piston as required to achieve a prescribed harmonic motion, and to generate electrical current from the field winding when the piston is driven by the working gas within the bores.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a pressure volume diagram showing the varying conditions of the working fluid in one of the sealed regions of Stirling engine 30 as it undergoes its operating cycle.
  • the outer perimeter of the region defined between points 1 , 2, 3, and 4 represents an theoretically ideal Stirling cycle pressure variation 56.
  • Stirling engines owe their inherent theoretical efficiency benefits to the fact that this ideal pressure relationship 56 closely approximates the thermodynamically ideal Carnot cycle pressure volume changes (not shown).
  • Curve 58 represents a pressure-volume trace achieved by the current kinematic swashplate drive system configuration of a Stirling engine. The area enclosed by curve 58 can be roughly equated to the overall efficiency of the engine. Since Stirling engine 30 of this invention is not constrained by a purely sinusoidal drive configuration of the prior art kinematic drive, a more highly optimized cycle pressure-volume relationship may be achieved. Curve 60 represents an example of a prescribed cycle for the piston 36.
  • the controller By modulating the electrical signal to field winding 52, the controller actuates the electric motor/alternator to drive the piston as required to achieve the prescribed cycle.
  • the piston is driven by the energy of the working gas within the bores, and drives the armature to generate electrical current within the field winding.
  • Curve 60 provides a larger area and the shaded regions 62 represents increases in cycle area which is equated to enhancements in overall thermal efficiency of the engine 30.
  • displacement control can be provided enabling rapid modulation of displacement.
  • a position sensing system may be associated with each connecting rod 16 to provide an electrical signal of position. Measured velocity and position values can be related to desired values and used to modulate input signals through an appropriate feedback control system.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Engine Equipment That Uses Special Cycles (AREA)

Abstract

Cette invention concerne un moteur Stirling à double effet (30) comprenant des pistons (36) qui sont animés d'un mouvement alternatif dans des cylindres (34) et sont entraînés par un gaz de travail alimentant ces cylindres. Chacun des pistons est relié à un moteur électrique/alternateur (48). Pendant la marche, une unité de commande (54) applique des signaux électriques au moteur électrique/alternateur dans le but d'entraîner le piston selon un mouvement spécifié, lequel piston produit de l'électricité lorsqu'il est déplacé par le gaz de travail du moteur.
PCT/US2003/016473 2002-05-24 2003-05-23 Moteur stirling multi-cylindre destine a la production d'energie electrique Ceased WO2003100240A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2003239866A AU2003239866A1 (en) 2002-05-24 2003-05-23 Multiple cylinder stiriling engine for electrical power generation

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US38302602P 2002-05-24 2002-05-24
US60/383,026 2002-05-24

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2003100240A1 true WO2003100240A1 (fr) 2003-12-04

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PCT/US2003/016473 Ceased WO2003100240A1 (fr) 2002-05-24 2003-05-23 Moteur stirling multi-cylindre destine a la production d'energie electrique

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AU (1) AU2003239866A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2003100240A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ITUA20164187A1 (it) * 2016-06-08 2017-12-08 Franco Tacchini Motore esotermico a ciclo perfezionato

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4824149A (en) * 1987-03-20 1989-04-25 Man Technologie Gmbh Generator set
EP0411699A1 (fr) * 1989-08-02 1991-02-06 Stirling Thermal Motors Inc. Pompe à chaleur à cycle Stirling pour des systèmes de chauffage et/ou refroidissement
EP0457399A2 (fr) * 1990-05-14 1991-11-21 Stirling Thermal Motors Inc. Système de cogénération à moteur stirling
WO1999004151A2 (fr) * 1997-07-16 1999-01-28 Valery Petrovich Kashtanov Installation generatrice d'electricite
EP1043491A1 (fr) * 1999-04-07 2000-10-11 Jean-Pierre Budliger Procédé pour générer et transmettre une énergie mécanique d'un moteur stirling à un organe consommateur d'énergie et dispositif pour la mise en oeuvre de ce procédé

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4824149A (en) * 1987-03-20 1989-04-25 Man Technologie Gmbh Generator set
EP0411699A1 (fr) * 1989-08-02 1991-02-06 Stirling Thermal Motors Inc. Pompe à chaleur à cycle Stirling pour des systèmes de chauffage et/ou refroidissement
EP0457399A2 (fr) * 1990-05-14 1991-11-21 Stirling Thermal Motors Inc. Système de cogénération à moteur stirling
WO1999004151A2 (fr) * 1997-07-16 1999-01-28 Valery Petrovich Kashtanov Installation generatrice d'electricite
EP1043491A1 (fr) * 1999-04-07 2000-10-11 Jean-Pierre Budliger Procédé pour générer et transmettre une énergie mécanique d'un moteur stirling à un organe consommateur d'énergie et dispositif pour la mise en oeuvre de ce procédé

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ITUA20164187A1 (it) * 2016-06-08 2017-12-08 Franco Tacchini Motore esotermico a ciclo perfezionato

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
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