Energy production devices and associated components, and related heat transfer devices and methods

A heat transfer device comprising:

• a stationary portion coupled to a first component;
• a moving portion coupled to a second component;
• a vibration isolator positioned between the moving portion and the stationary portion;
• and
• a heat transfer fluid loop configured to contain a liquid heat transfer medium to flow through the heat transfer fluid loop and transfer heat from the second component to the first component,
• wherein the vibration isolator comprises a bellows, an elastomeric material, and an insulator, the bellows comprising a material configured to withstand temperatures at or above a molten temperature of the liquid heat transfer medium and the insulator positioned between the bellows and the elastomeric material and configured to substantially prevent heat from the liquid heat transfer medium from passing from the bellows to the elastomeric material.

A method of operating an energy production device, the method comprising:

• heating a heat transmission fluid in a core;
• flowing the heat transmission fluid out of the core and through a heat transfer device;
• heating a secondary heat transfer medium contained in the heat transfer device with the heat transmission fluid;
• converting heat from the secondary heat transfer medium to mechanical motion through an energy harvesting device mounted to a mounting portion of the heat transfer device;
• isolating residual motion of the energy harvesting device from a stationary portion of the heat transfer device through a vibration isolator positioned between the mounting portion of the heat transfer device and the stationary portion of the heat transfer device, the vibration isolator including an isolating interface and an insulator positioned between the isolating interface and the secondary heat transfer medium;
• and
• generating at least a partial vacuum between the vibration isolator and the heat transfer device by applying a negative pressure to an air gap defined between the vibration isolator and the heat transfer device, the air gap forming the isolating interface.