EP1180593A1 - Method of controlling power output of a stirling engine - Google Patents
Method of controlling power output of a stirling engine Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP1180593A1 EP1180593A1 EP00117616A EP00117616A EP1180593A1 EP 1180593 A1 EP1180593 A1 EP 1180593A1 EP 00117616 A EP00117616 A EP 00117616A EP 00117616 A EP00117616 A EP 00117616A EP 1180593 A1 EP1180593 A1 EP 1180593A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- casing
- stirling engine
- power output
- displacer
- controlling power
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
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Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
- F02G—HOT GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT ENGINE PLANTS; USE OF WASTE HEAT OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F02G1/00—Hot gas positive-displacement engine plants
- F02G1/04—Hot gas positive-displacement engine plants of closed-cycle type
- F02G1/043—Hot gas positive-displacement engine plants of closed-cycle type the engine being operated by expansion and contraction of a mass of working gas which is heated and cooled in one of a plurality of constantly communicating expansible chambers, e.g. Stirling cycle type engines
- F02G1/045—Controlling
- F02G1/05—Controlling by varying the rate of flow or quantity of the working gas
Definitions
- This invention is related to a method of controlling power of a Stirling engine and in particular to one which can accurately control the power output of an engine.
- the conventional Stirling engine is an external combustion reciprocating engine, patented by a Scottish clergyman, Robert Stirling, in 1827. It consists essentially of a cylinder in which a working piston and a displacer operate. When the air or a suitable gas in the cylinder is heated, it expands, driving the working piston. The displacer transfers the air to a cold region for cooling: it is then recompressed by the working piston and transferred by the displacer to the hot region to start the cycle again.
- Such an engine is very much quieter and cleaner than a petrol or diesel engine. Since that time, various Stirling engine systems have been prototyped and put into limited operation throughout the world. However, the power output of the Stirling engine systems cannot be accurately controlled thereby making them unfit for practical use.
- This invention is related to a method of controlling power of a Stirling engine and in particular to one which can accurately control the power output of an engine.
- a method of controlling power output of a Stirling engine having a casing, a displacer slidably fitted in the casing, and a working piston disposed under the displacer and slidably fitted in the casing comprising the steps of: providing the casing with a bleeding passage extending radially outwardly between the displacer and the working piston, and providing means for adjusting volume of the bleeding passage, whereby the power output of the Stirling engine can be accurately controlled.
- the Stirling engine generally comprises a casing 100, a displacer 1, a first connecting rod 11, a second connecting rod 12, a working piston 2, a flywheel 6, and an adjust screw 5.
- the casing 100 has an upper end 101 from which heat is transferred to the air inside the casing 100.
- the upper end 101 may be replaced with a cap made of ceramic or the like so as to enable it to store more energy for heating the air inside the casing 100.
- the casing 100 is formed with a plurality of fins below the upper end 101 for cooling down the air inside the casing 100.
- the displacer 1 is fitted into the casing 100 so that it can reciprocate within the casing 100.
- the first connecting rod 11 is connected with the displacer 1 at one end and the flywheel 6 at the other.
- the working piston 2 is disposed under the displacer and connected with the flywheel 6 via the second connecting rod 21.
- the casing 100 is formed with a bleeding passage 4 extending radially outwardly between the displacer 1 and the working piston 2.
- the adjust screw 5 is threadedly engaged with the outer end of the bleeding passage 4. As the adjust screw 5 is turned slightly into the bleeding passage 4, the volume of the bleeding passage 4 will be changed thereby decreasing the capacity of the casing 100 and therefore increasing the revolution per second of the flywheel wheel 6.
- the volume of the bleeding passage 4 will be altered thereby increasing the capacity of the casing 100 and therefore decreasing the revolution per second of the flywheel wheel 6.
- the power output of the Stirling engine can be accurately controlled by using a computer-controlled servomotor to drive the adjust screw 5 and a proportional valve for controlling the fuel to heat the upper end 101 of the casing 100, thereby solving the problem that we long for and making the Stirling engine fit for practical use.
- FIG. 2 illustrates a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.
- the adjust screw 5 of the first preferred embodiment is replaced with a box 6 in which are mounted a diaphragm 7, a spring 8 and a screw 9.
- the spring 8 will exert a pressure to move diaphragm 7 to go inwardly thus decreasing the capacity of the casing 100 and therefore increasing the speed of the flywheel 6, and vice versa.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Engine Equipment That Uses Special Cycles (AREA)
Abstract
A method of controlling power output of a Stirling engine having a
casing, a displacer slidably fitted in the casing, and a working piston disposed
under the displacer and slidably fitted in the casing, comprising the steps of:
providing the casing with a bleeding passage extending radially outwardly
between the displacer and the working piston, and providing means for
adjusting volume of the bleeding passage, whereby the power output of the
Stirling engine can be accurately controlled.
Description
- This invention is related to a method of controlling power of a Stirling engine and in particular to one which can accurately control the power output of an engine.
- The conventional Stirling engine is an external combustion reciprocating engine, patented by a Scottish clergyman, Robert Stirling, in 1827. It consists essentially of a cylinder in which a working piston and a displacer operate. When the air or a suitable gas in the cylinder is heated, it expands, driving the working piston. The displacer transfers the air to a cold region for cooling: it is then recompressed by the working piston and transferred by the displacer to the hot region to start the cycle again. Such an engine is very much quieter and cleaner than a petrol or diesel engine. Since that time, various Stirling engine systems have been prototyped and put into limited operation throughout the world. However, the power output of the Stirling engine systems cannot be accurately controlled thereby making them unfit for practical use.
- Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of accurately controlling power output of a Stirling engine.
- This invention is related to a method of controlling power of a Stirling engine and in particular to one which can accurately control the power output of an engine.
- According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method of controlling power output of a Stirling engine having a casing, a displacer slidably fitted in the casing, and a working piston disposed under the displacer and slidably fitted in the casing, comprising the steps of: providing the casing with a bleeding passage extending radially outwardly between the displacer and the working piston, and providing means for adjusting volume of the bleeding passage, whereby the power output of the Stirling engine can be accurately controlled.
- It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a method of accurately controlling the power output of a Stirling engine.
- The foregoing objects and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts. Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.
-
- FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a first preferred embodiment according to the present invention; and
- FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a second preferred embodiment according to the present invention.
-
- For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings. Specific language will be used to describe same. It will, nevertheless, be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.
- Referring to FIG. 1, the Stirling engine according to the present invention generally comprises a
casing 100, a displacer 1, a first connectingrod 11, a second connecting rod 12, a workingpiston 2, aflywheel 6, and anadjust screw 5. As shown, thecasing 100 has anupper end 101 from which heat is transferred to the air inside thecasing 100. Theupper end 101 may be replaced with a cap made of ceramic or the like so as to enable it to store more energy for heating the air inside thecasing 100. Thecasing 100 is formed with a plurality of fins below theupper end 101 for cooling down the air inside thecasing 100. The displacer 1 is fitted into thecasing 100 so that it can reciprocate within thecasing 100. The first connectingrod 11 is connected with the displacer 1 at one end and theflywheel 6 at the other. The workingpiston 2 is disposed under the displacer and connected with theflywheel 6 via the second connectingrod 21. Thecasing 100 is formed with ableeding passage 4 extending radially outwardly between the displacer 1 and the workingpiston 2. Theadjust screw 5 is threadedly engaged with the outer end of thebleeding passage 4. As theadjust screw 5 is turned slightly into thebleeding passage 4, the volume of thebleeding passage 4 will be changed thereby decreasing the capacity of thecasing 100 and therefore increasing the revolution per second of theflywheel wheel 6. Similarly, when theadjust screw 5 is turned slightly out of thebleeding passage 4, the volume of thebleeding passage 4 will be altered thereby increasing the capacity of thecasing 100 and therefore decreasing the revolution per second of theflywheel wheel 6. According to our numerous experiments, only a small change in the capacity of thecasing 100 will effectively alter the revolution per second of theflywheel 6, so that the power output of the Stirling engine can be controlled easily. In fact, the power output of the Stirling engine can be accurately controlled by using a computer-controlled servomotor to drive theadjust screw 5 and a proportional valve for controlling the fuel to heat theupper end 101 of thecasing 100, thereby solving the problem that we long for and making the Stirling engine fit for practical use. - FIG. 2 illustrates a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the
adjust screw 5 of the first preferred embodiment is replaced with abox 6 in which are mounted a diaphragm 7, a spring 8 and a screw 9. As the screw 9 goes further into thebox 6, the spring 8 will exert a pressure to move diaphragm 7 to go inwardly thus decreasing the capacity of thecasing 100 and therefore increasing the speed of theflywheel 6, and vice versa. - It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.
- While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
Claims (3)
- A method of controlling power output of a Stirling engine having a casing, a displacer slidably fitted in said casing, and a working piston disposed under said displacer and slidably fitted in said casing, comprising the steps of:providing said casing with a bleeding passage extending radially outwardly between said displacer and said working piston; andproviding means for adjusting volume of said bleeding passage.
- The method of controlling power output of a Stirling engine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means is an adjust screw threadedly engaged with said bleeding passage.
- The method of controlling power output of a Stirling engine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means includes a box in which are mounted a diaphragm, a spring having an end urging said diaphragm against said bleeding passage, and a screw bearing against another end of said spring.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP00117616A EP1180593A1 (en) | 2000-08-16 | 2000-08-16 | Method of controlling power output of a stirling engine |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP00117616A EP1180593A1 (en) | 2000-08-16 | 2000-08-16 | Method of controlling power output of a stirling engine |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1180593A1 true EP1180593A1 (en) | 2002-02-20 |
Family
ID=8169540
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP00117616A Withdrawn EP1180593A1 (en) | 2000-08-16 | 2000-08-16 | Method of controlling power output of a stirling engine |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1180593A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2017043711A1 (en) * | 2014-12-10 | 2017-03-16 | 서울대학교 산학협력단 | Organic rankine cycle power generating device using stirling engine |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
NL73859C (en) * | 1900-01-01 | |||
GB730101A (en) * | 1951-06-05 | 1955-05-18 | Philips Electrical Ind Ltd | Improvements in or relating to hot-gas reciprocating engines and refrigerators and heat pumps operating according to the reversed hot-gas reciprocating engine principle |
-
2000
- 2000-08-16 EP EP00117616A patent/EP1180593A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
NL73859C (en) * | 1900-01-01 | |||
GB730101A (en) * | 1951-06-05 | 1955-05-18 | Philips Electrical Ind Ltd | Improvements in or relating to hot-gas reciprocating engines and refrigerators and heat pumps operating according to the reversed hot-gas reciprocating engine principle |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2017043711A1 (en) * | 2014-12-10 | 2017-03-16 | 서울대학교 산학협력단 | Organic rankine cycle power generating device using stirling engine |
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