# US 2009/0260355 A1 · Stirling engine assembly

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- Number: US 2009/0260355 A1
- Document ID: US20090260355A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 10/514,296
- Filed: 2003-05-14
- Published: 2009-10-22
- Earliest claimed: 2002-05-15
- Inventors: John Howard Alderson; David Anthony Clark; Julie Patricia Hyde; Heather Allderidge; Jennifer Jane Lamb
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090260355A1

## CPC

- F02G 1/055: Heaters or coolers
- F02G 1/0535: {Seals or sealing arrangements}
- F02G 2253/06: Bellow seals
- F02G: HOT GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT ENGINE PLANTS (steam engine plants, special vapour plants, plants operating on either hot gas or combustion-product gases together with other fluid F01K; gas-turbine plants F02C; jet-propulsion plants F02K); USE OF WASTE HEAT OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A Stirling engine assembly comprising a Stirling engine (1) having a head (2). A burner (7) for providing heat to the engine head surrounds the head. A flexible seal (20) seals the interface between the engine and burner. A first liquid coolant circuit (25) is positioned between the burner and seal to reduce the heat transfer from the burner to the seal.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A Stirling engine assembly comprising a Stirling engine having a head, a burner for providing heat to the engine head, a flexible seal between the engine and burner, and a first liquid coolant circuit between the burner and seal positioned to reduce the heat transfer from the burner to the seal.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A Stirling engine assembly according to claim 1, wherein the Stirling engine further comprises a cooler with a second liquid coolant circuit fed with liquid common to the first liquid coolant circuit.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A Stirling engine assembly according to claim 2, wherein the first and second liquid coolant circuits are arranged in parallel.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

A Stirling engine assembly according to claim 2, wherein the first and second liquid coolant circuits are arranged in series.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A Stirling engine assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first liquid coolant circuit is positioned radially inwardly of the seal.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A Stirling engine assembly according to claim 1, wherein in a torturous path is provided for gases flowing from the burner to the seal.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A Stirling engine assembly according to claim 1, wherein insulation is provided to reduce heat transfer from the burner to the seal.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A Stirling engine assembly according to claim 1, wherein fibrous insulating material is packed into the space beneath the burner between a burner housing and the head of the Stirling engine.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A Stirling engine assembly according to claim 1, wherein the seal is a silicon rubber sealing material.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A Stirling engine assembly according to claim 1, wherein the seal is a fluoroelastomer sealing material.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

A Stirling engine assembly according to claim 1, wherein the seal can withstand a maximum temperature of less than 350° C.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

A Stirling engine according to claim 1, wherein the flexible seal extends into the first liquid coolant circuit.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

A Stirling engine according to claim 1, wherein the first liquid coolant circuit has, surrounding the engine, an open annular channel section and an annular plate across the open annular section, wherein the seal is sandwiched between the channel section and plate.