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US 4,873,826 AGranted
Control scheme for power modulation of a free piston Stirling engine
AssigneeMechanical Technology Incorporated
InventorManmohan Dhar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to a control scheme for power modulation of a free-piston Stirling engine-linear alternator power generator system. The present invention includes connecting an autotransformer in series with a tuning capacitance between a linear alternator and a utility grid to maintain a constant displacement to piston stroke ratio and their relative phase angle over a wide range of operating conditions.
Claims9
A control system for power modulation of a free piston Stirling engine, comprising:
- a receiver adapted to absorb solar energy and to convert said solar energy into thermal energy;
- a power module comprising a displacer type free piston Stirling engine having power and displacer pistons, and a linear alternator connected to said engine, said power module adapted to receive and to convert said thermal energy into electrical energy;
- a utility grid adapted to receive the electrical energy from said power module;
- an autotransformer connected in series between said linear alternator and said grid, said autotransformer being connected by feedback means to said receiver so that a change in solar insolation to the receiver varies the autotransformer turns ratio thus changing said linear alternator's terminal voltage and changing power piston and displacer piston amplitude accordingly to maintain a high engine efficiency cycle over a large operating range for solar insolation absorbed by said receiver.
1 more element
A control system for power modulation of a free piston Stirling engine, comprising:
- means for producing thermal energy;
- a power module comprising a displacer type free piston Stirling engine having power and displacer pistons, and a linear alternator connected to said engine, said power module adapted to receive and to convert said thermal energy into electrical energy;
- a utility grid adapted to receive the electrical energy from said power module;
- means for controlling the terminal voltage of said alternator and changing power piston and displacer piston amplitude accordingly to maintain a high engine efficiency cycle over a large operating range.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.