Stirling Engine Control for Thermosiphon Pressure and Temperature Limits
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Stirling engines face issues where an increase in pressure or temperature of the heating medium can lead to damage by releasing the medium externally, which compromises the thermosiphon's integrity.
Innovation Solution
A Stirling engine with an engine controller that regulates thermal energy absorption when pressure or temperature exceeds predetermined values, preventing external release of the heating medium and maintaining thermosiphon integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a valve is opened to release heating medium when pressure or temperature exceeds predetermined values, then pressure and temperature increases are suppressed, but the heating medium is released to outside and the thermosiphon may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a heat storage unit as an intermediary component between the heating medium and the thermosiphon. When pressure or temperature exceeds predetermined values, the heat storage unit absorbs excess thermal energy, acting as a buffer that prevents direct release of heating medium while still suppressing pressure and temperature increases. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by providing an alternative mechanism that protects the thermosiphon without requiring valve opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the heating medium by introducing a heat storage unit that can alter the thermal state. The heat storage unit absorbs excess heat, changing the temperature parameter of the heating medium dynamically. This parameter change approach allows the system to suppress temperature and pressure increases without releasing the heating medium, thereby maintaining thermosiphon integrity while managing thermal stress.
2Stress or pressure
If heating medium is released to outside to suppress pressure increase, then pressure control is achieved, but amount of heating medium in thermosiphon is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The heat storage unit serves as an intermediary that temporarily stores excess heating medium or thermal energy without permanent loss. Instead of releasing heating medium to the outside, the heat storage unit captures and holds the excess, maintaining the total quantity of heating medium in the closed system while still achieving pressure control through the absorption mechanism.
3Stress or pressure
If valve is opened to prevent pressure increase, then pressure control is improved, but temperature of heat exchanger increases possibly causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The heat storage unit acts as a thermal intermediary that absorbs excess heat before it can transfer to the heat exchanger. By positioning the heat storage unit in the thermal pathway, it mediates the heat transfer process, reducing the thermal load on the heat exchanger while maintaining pressure control, thus preventing heat exchanger damage without requiring valve opening.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The engine effectively suppresses pressure and temperature increases without releasing the heating medium, thereby avoiding damage to the thermosiphon and ensuring efficient operation.
Implementation Method 1
a thermosiphon that accommodates a heating medium receiving heat from a heat source
Implementation Method 2
a heater that gives the heat to the working gas by the heating medium
Implementation Method 3
The heat exchanger that uses water as a medium (a heating medium) for heat exchange is also referred to as a thermosiphon
Data Source
AI summary
A Stirling engine includes: the thermosiphon that accommodates the heating medium receiving heat from a heat source; and an engine unit that has a body accommodating working gas. A heater that gives heat to the working gas by the heating medium is arranged in the body. The Stirling engine includes an engine controller that executes control for increasing an absorbed amount of thermal energy from the heating medium when at least one of the pressure and the temperature of the heating medium exceeds a predetermined value.