Method for improving gas bearing function at low thermal cooling power
US12038214B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 14, 2022 |
| Grant date | Jul 16, 2024 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 23, 2043 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25B2700/2111
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method for increasing working gas flow rate through gas bearings of a free piston, gamma configured Stirling heat pump to avoid failure of the gas bearings while maintaining thermal cooling power. The Stirling heat pump lifts heat from a storage chamber and has pistons that are driven in reciprocation at an operating frequency by linear electric motors. A temperature control maintains a steady state storage chamber temperature by sensing storage chamber temperature and modulating piston amplitude. The invention comprises (a) driving the pistons with linear electric motors that are driven by a variable frequency, AC power source; (b) sensing the pistons' amplitude of reciprocation; and (c) if the sensed piston amplitude is less than a selected piston activation amplitude, increasing the frequency of the AC power source to increase the Stirling heat pump's operating frequency. That decreases thermal cooling power which causes the temperature control to increase piston amplitude.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.