Recovery of Energy in Residue Gases

A system for recovery of energy in residue gases generated in an industrial process, comprising:

• at least two energy conversion units, each unit including:
• a combustion chamber having a fuel inlet configured to receive a flow of residue gas for combustion in said chamber, and
• a Sterling engine configured to convert heat from the combustion chamber into mechanical energy, the Stirling engine having a separate fluid circuit containing a compressible working fluid, said fluid circuit including a heat exchanger with a set of tubes, a portion of said heat exchanger extending into the combustion chamber;
• and
• a pressure control system including:
• a high-pressure reservoir of working fluid,
• a low-pressure reservoir of working fluid,
• a pressure pump connected between said high pressure reservoir and said low pressure reservoir and configured to maintain a pressure difference between said reservoirs, and
• a control arrangement configured to place the fluid circuit of each Stirling engine in fluid connection with one of said high-pressure reservoir and said low-pressure reservoir to regulate a pressure in each separate fluid circuit.