A compressor train with a stirling engine
AssigneeNuovo Pignone S.p.A.
InventorsLeonardo TOGNARELLI, Ricardo BAGAGLI, Francesco BUFFA, Marco SANTINI
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for driving a reciprocating compressor is disclosed. The system includes a reciprocating compressor with a crankshaft. A Stirling engine is drivingly connected to the crankshaft of the reciprocating compressor. A heat source, for example a waste heat source, provides heat to the hot end of the Stirling engine. Heat is partly converted into mechanical power to drive the reciprocating compressor.
Claims27
A system for driving a reciprocating compressor comprising:
- a reciprocating compressor with at least one cylinder, a piston slidingly movable in the cylinder, and a crankshaft for moving the piston in the cylinder;
- a Stirling engine with a hot end, a cold end, and an output shaft;
- a driving connection between the output shaft of the Stirling engine and the crankshaft of the reciprocating compressor;
- and
- a heat source arranged and configured to provide heat to the hot end of the Stirling engine (50).
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A method for driving a reciprocating compressor, comprising the steps of:
- providing a reciprocating compressor with at least one cylinder, a piston slidingly movable in said cylinder, and a crankshaft for moving the piston in the cylinder;
- providing a Stirling engine with a hot end, a cold end, and an output shaft;
- drivingly connecting the output shaft of the Stirling engine to the crankshaft of the reciprocating compressor;
- providing thermal energy to the hot end of the Stirling engine and partly converting the thermal energy into mechanical power with the Stirling engine;
- and
- applying the mechanical power to the crankshaft of the reciprocating compressor.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.