Atmospheric energy recovery

A system for recovering atmospheric energy, the system comprising:

• a first warming cylinder having a first warming piston therein, the first warming cylinder exposed to atmospheric temperature, and the first warming cylinder and the first warming piston define a first warming-active volume;
• a first cryo cylinder having a first cryo piston therein, the first cryo cylinder disposed within a region of cryogenic temperature, and the first cryo cylinder and the first cryo piston define a first cryo-active volume;
• a second warming cylinder having a second warming piston therein, the second warming cylinder exposed to atmospheric temperature, and the second warming cylinder and the second warming piston define a second warming-active volume;
• a second cryo cylinder having a second cryo piston therein, the second cryo cylinder disposed within the region of cryogenic temperature, and the second cryo cylinder and the second cryo piston define a second cryo-active volume;
• a heat exchanger defining a first flow path that fluidly couples the first warming-active volume to the first cryo-active volume, and a second flow path that fluidly couples the second warming-active volume to the second cryo-active volume;
• a working cylinder having a working piston therein, the working cylinder exposed to atmospheric temperature, and the working cylinder and the working piston defining a working volume fluidly coupled to the first warming-active volume;
• a first fluid disposed in the first warming-active volume, the first cryo-active volume, and the working volume;
• a second fluid disposed in the second warming-active volume and the second cryo-active volume;
• a means for extracting energy from movement of the working piston;
• a first means for controlling position of the first warming piston and the first cryo piston;
• a second means for controlling position of the second warming piston and the second cryo piston;
• a controller coupled to the means for extracting energy, the first means for controlling position, and the second means for controlling position, the controller configured to:
• position the first warming piston and the first cryo piston such that a majority of the first fluid resides in the first warming-active volume and the working volume, thereby warming the first fluid from heat in atmospheric air, and the warming creates an increase in volume of the first fluid and moves the working piston to a first position;
• hold the working piston in the first position to create a first fixed working volume;
• move the first warming piston and the first cryo piston, and move the second warming piston and the second cryo piston, to exchange heat in the first fluid with the second fluid by way of the heat exchanger while the working piston is held in the first position, thereby reducing pressure of the first fluid below atmospheric pressure and creating a first differential pressure across the working piston;
• and then
• release the working piston;
• and
• convert movement of the working piston caused by the first differential pressure into usable work by the means for extracting energy.