System and method for electrically-coupled thermal cycle

A method for generating electrical energy using a thermal cycle of a working gas, the method comprising:

• using the motion of a piston in a first cylinder, containing the working gas performing the thermal cycle, to electromagnetically induce current in an electrical circuit coupled to the first cylinder, the electrical circuit comprising an electronic power converter;
• using the electrical circuit to store the electrical energy, produced by the current induced in the electrical circuit, in an electrical storage device;
• using the electrical energy stored in the electrical storage device to electromagnetically provide a motive force to the piston;
• using the electronic power converter to perform closed-loop electronic control of the motion of the piston;
• the cyclically using the electrical circuit to store the electrical energy and using the stored energy to provide a motive force to the piston effecting a net positive average power transfer into the electrical storage device over the course of the thermal cycle;
• and
• the method further comprising using a second cylinder operating according to the same method as the first cylinder to generate electrical energy, the first cylinder and the second cylinder being operated in axial opposition to each other.

A method for powering a heat pump using electrical energy, the heat pump performing a thermal cycle, the method comprising:

• using electrical energy stored in an electrical storage device to electromagnetically provide motive force to a first piston in a cylinder and a second piston in the cylinder, the cylinder containing the working gas performing the thermal cycle;
• using the motions of the first piston and the second piston to electromagnetically induce current in an electrical circuit coupled to the cylinder, the electrical circuit comprising an electronic power converter;
• using compression and expansion of the working gas between the first piston and the second piston to perform the thermal cycle;
• using the electrical circuit to store the electrical energy, produced by the current induced in the electrical circuit, in the electrical storage device;
• using the electronic power converter to perform closed-loop electronic control of the motions of the first piston and the second piston;
• the cyclically using the stored energy to provide motive force to the first piston and the second piston and using the electrical circuit to store the electrical energy effecting a net positive average power transfer out of the electrical storage device over the course of the thermal cycle;
• the working gas delivering heat to an external heat source thermally coupled to the cylinder through at least one heat transfer zone of the cylinder;
• and
• using at least one of the following:
• (i) a thermal shade attached to the first piston or the second piston to insulate non-working gas within the cylinder;
• (ii) a paddle attached to the first piston or the second piston to create turbulence in the working gas;
• (iii) an external flow return to flow non-working gas between a first end zone and a second end zone of the cylinder;
• and (iv) a common centering shaft around which the first piston and the second piston are mounted.

A method for powering a heat pump using electrical energy, the heat pump performing a thermal cycle, the method comprising:

• using electrical energy stored in an electrical storage device to electromagnetically provide a motive force to a piston in a first cylinder containing the working gas performing the thermal cycle;
• using the motion of the piston to electromagnetically induce current in an electrical circuit coupled to the first cylinder, the electrical circuit comprising an electronic power converter;
• and
• using the electrical circuit to store the electrical energy, produced by the current induced in the electrical circuit, in the electrical storage device;
• using the electronic power converter to perform closed-loop electronic control of the motion of the piston;
• the cyclically using the stored energy to provide the motive force to the piston and using the electrical circuit to store the electrical energy effecting a net positive average power transfer out of the electrical storage device over the course of the thermal cycle;
• the method further comprising using a second cylinder operating according to the same method as the first cylinder to power a heat pump using electrical energy, the first cylinder and the second cylinder being operated in axial opposition to each other.