Heating and cooling machine

Details Heating and cooling machine Heating and cooling machine

1996-01-16

1998-02-10

Kilner, Christopher

Refrigeration

Gas compression, heat regeneration and expansion, e.g.,...

60517, 60520, F25B 900

Patent

active

057156832

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a heating and cooling machine operating according to a regenerative gas cycle process and having two pistons linearly moveable within a pressure-tight housing which together delimit a warm working volume and whereby one of the pistons delimits in the housing a hot working volume subjected to heat and the other piston delimits a cold working volume, whereby the three working volumes are connected to one another by interposing regenerators and heat transfer elements and whereby a drive and/or a control for the pistons is provided.
Such heating and cooling machines, which, for example, operate according to the Stirling or Vuilleumier cycle process, have been known for a long time, for example, from British Patent 136 195. However, despite the undeniable advantages of the regenerative gas cycle process these machines have not found acceptance in practice, mainly due to constructive problems, which prevent the realization of the theoretical advantages of such machines in practice. Even recent publications, for example, European patent application 0 238 707 A2, deal more with theoretical considerations than with practical embodiments of such heating and cooling machines.
In order to realize an industrial manufacture of such heating and cooling machines past the stage of a prototype for general daily use of such heating and cooling machines, it is necessary to optimize the individual components of these machines. It is an object of the invention to further develop a heating and cooling machine of the afore defined kind such that a good introduction of heat energy into the hot working volume results while providing small exterior dimensions and high pressure of the required components which furthermore should have a minimal wall thickness by improving the heat transfer.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The solution to this object according to the invention is characterized in that the heat energy is guided into the hot working volume via an inwardly or outwardly curved (relative to the interior of the housing) partition that forms at the same time a part of the pressure-tight housing, the partition being in the form of a radially symmetrical dome, having a cross-section along its central axis in the form of a conic section especially a semi-sphere and connected with the housing in a heat-insulating manner.
The heating and cooling machine, operating according to the principle of a regenerative gas cycle process with a working medium, according to the present invention is primarily characterized by: pistons delimiting therebetween a warm working volume and driveable by a control unit; working volume loaded with heat energy from the heat source; cold working volume; the housing; working volume communicate with one another through the regenerators and the warm and cold heat transfer elements; and transmitting heat generated by the heat source to the hot working volume, the partition connected to the housing so as to be heat-insulated relative to the housing.
Preferably, the partition has a cross-section along a central axis in the form of a conic section. Expediently, the partition is shaped as a semisphere.
In a preferred embodiment, the partition is curved inwardly relative to the hot working volume.
In another preferred embodiment, the partition is curved outwardly relative to the hot working volume.
Expediently, the partition has a surface facing the working volume and comprising surface area-enlarging ribs.
In another embodiment, the partition has a surface facing away from the working volume and comprising surface area-enlarging ribs.
The partition has a surface facing away from the working volume and comprising surface area-enlarging ribs.
Preferably, the partition has a surface facing away from the working volume. The surface has a rim portion provided with flow channels increasing the flow velocity of the flue gas. The flow channels are advantageously formed by rib members or baffle plates.
Expediently, the heat source generates heat energy with a high proporti

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Hans-Detlev Kuhl et al; Der Vuilleumier-Prozess als Warmepumpe; 1986.

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