HEAT-TO-ELECTRIC POWER CONVERTER

• US 3,675,031 A
• Filed: 11/18/1970
• Issued: 07/04/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pierre Lavigne
• Original Assignee: Pierre Lavigne
• Inventors: Lavigne, Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): Simmons, G. R.
• Application Number:
  US05/090,645
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1,1A 123/46 310/27
• US Class Current: 290/1.00R
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 35/02 with moving magnets and stationary coil systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1884 structurally associated with free piston engines

Abstract

The converter comprises a linear alternator consisting of a stationary armature and a field winding which is capable of linear reciprocating motion within the armature. A fluid is circulated within a closed loop system so as to operate a driving machine constituted by an expansion section and a compression section each containing a piston directly connected to the field winding for carrying out the reciprocating motion and causing simultaneous expansion and compression of the fluid within the two sections. The hot fluid which is discharged from the expansion section and the cold fluid which is discharged from the compression section are circulated in two circuits in opposite directions within a heat exchanger and then fed back respectively into the compression section and the expansion section.

Claims

1. A converter for the conversion of heat to electrical energy comprising a linear alternator constituted by a stationary armature and a filed winding which is linearly movable within said armature and a driving machine operating with a fluid in a circulation loop system and comprising an expansion section and a compression section and each having a piston directly connected to the field winding to endow said winding with reciprocating motion within said armature, the expansion of said fluid while absorbing heat derived from a heat source and the compression of said fluid while restoring heat being carried out respectively and similtaneously within said two sections when said pistons move in a given direction, an elastic system for returning said pistons in the opposite direction, and a heat exchanger within which the hot fluid discharged from the expansion section and the cold fluid discharged from the compression section are circulated within two circuits in opposite directions and then fed back respectively into the compression section and the expansion section, the expansion section comprising a cylindrical chamber which is placed at one end Of the armature in the axis of the movement to be imparted to the field winding and which can be heated externally by said heat source, a piston coupled to said field winding by means of a rod, said piston being slidably mounted within said chamber and formed by a cylinder having a diametrical wall which is pierced by a central opening, a valve for shutting off said opening, an admission box mounted against the end of said chamber, a valve for putting said admission box into communication with said cylindrical chamber, and an elastic system having axial linear movements and intended to control said valves, and wherein the compression section comprises:

a cylindrical chamber which is placed at the other end of the armature in the same axis as the cylindrical chamber of the expansion section and which can be cooled externally, a piston rigidly fixed to said rod, said piston being slidably mounted within said chamber and formed by a cylinder having a diametrical wall which is pierced by a central opening, a free valve which is intended to shut off said opening, a discharge box which is mounted against the end of said chamber, and a free valve for putting said discharge box into communication with said cylindrical chamber, the two circuits of the heat exchanger being connected in one case between said discharge box and said admission box and in the other case between the cylindrical chambers of the expansion and compression sections.

2. A converter according to claim 1 and further including a heating unit for heating the fluid which is admitted into the expansion section, and a cooling unit for cooling the fluid which is admitted into the compression section.