Power generation and space conditioning using a thermodynamic engine driven through environmental heating and cooling

A method of generating power, the method comprising:

• providing a Stirling engine configured to convert heat provided in the form of a temperature difference to a nonheat form of energy;
• directing heat through a heating loop in thermal contact with a first side of the Stirling engine, wherein directing heat comprises directing at least a portion of the heat from the heating loop to a supplementary heating function after making contact with the first side of the Stirling engine;
• coupling a second side of the Stirling engine different from the first side to an environmental cooling loop in thermal contact with an environmental cooling device;
• operating the Stirling engine to dispense heat from the second side of the Stirling engine through the environmental cooling loop into the environmental cooling device;
• whereby operation of the Stirling engine generates the nonheat form of energy from the temperature difference thereby established between the first side and the second side of the Stirling engine.

A method of generating power, the method comprising:

• providing a Stirling engine configured to convert heat provided in the form of a temperature difference to mechanical energy;
• collecting solar radiation;
• converting the solar radiation to heat;
• storing a first portion of the converted solar radiation in a thermal storage device;
• directing a second portion of the converted solar radiation through a heating loop in thermal contact with a first side of the Stirling engine, wherein directing the second portion of the converted solar radiation comprises directing at least a portion of the second portion of the converted solar radiation to a supplementary heating function different from the heating loop;
• after making contact with the first side of the Stirling engine.
• coupling a second side of the Stirling engine different from the first side to an environmental cooling loop in thermal contact with an environmental cooling device;
• operating the Stirling engine to dispense heat from the second side of the Stirling engine through the environmental cooling loop into the environmental cooling device;
• and
• converting mechanical energy generated by operation of the Stirling engine from the temperature difference thereby established between the first side and the second side into electrical energy.

A system for generating power, the system comprising:

• a thermodynamic engine configured to convert heat provided in the form of a temperature difference to a nonheat form of energy;
• a heating loop in thermal contact with a first side of the thermodynamic engine;
• a heating conduit configured to receive heat from the heating loop after heat makes contact with the first side of the thermodynamic engine and to deliver the heat to a supplementary heating function;
• a source of heat in thermal contact with the heating loop;
• an environmental cooling loop in thermal contact with a second side of the thermodynamic engine different from the first side;
• and
• an environmental cooling device in thermal contact with the environmental cooling loop.

A system for generating power, the system comprising:

• a Stirling engine configured to convert heat provided in the form of a temperature difference to mechanical energy;
• a solar thermal collector configured to convert collected solar radiation to heat;
• a thermal storage device configured to store a first portion of the converted solar radiation;
• a heating loop in thermal contact with a first side of the Stirling engine to direct a second portion of the converted solar radiation to the first side and to direct at least a portion of the second portion to a supplementary heating function after the at least the portion of the second portion makes thermal contact with the first side ;
• an environmental cooling loop in thermal contact with a second side of the thermodynamic engine different from the first side;
• an environmental cooling device in thermal contact with the environmental cooling loop;
• and
• an electrical generator in communication with the Stirling engine to convert mechanical energy generated by operation of the Stirling engine from the temperature difference thereby established between the first side and the second side into electrical energy.