Direct use of acoustic power in stirling engine for heat removal

Abstract

A Stirling engine includes a piston and a displacer that move in phased reciprocating motion within one or more cylinders. A working fluid is contained within the one or more cylinders, and a position of the displacer causes the working fluid to be in contact with either a hot heat exchanger or a cold heat exchanger. A volume of the working fluid governed by a position of the piston is referred to as a compression space. The piston, the displacer and the working fluid operate in a thermodynamic cycle that generates acoustic wave power. An acoustic pump is driven by the acoustic wave power.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A Stirling engine comprising:
 a piston and a displacer that move in phased reciprocating motion within one or more cylinders;   a working fluid contained within said one or more cylinders, wherein a position of said displacer causes said working fluid to be in contact with either a hot heat exchanger or a cold heat exchanger, and wherein a volume of said working fluid governed by a position of said piston is referred to as a compression space;   said piston, said displacer and said working fluid operating in a thermodynamic cycle comprising a first phase wherein said piston compresses said working fluid in said compression space, a second phase wherein said working fluid is displaced from said cold heat exchanger to said hot heat exchanger and a pressure of said working fluid increases, a third phase wherein a volume of said compression space increases as heat is drawn in from outside said engine, and a fourth phase wherein said working fluid is transferred from said hot heat exchanger to said cold heat exchanger, the thermodynamic cycle generating acoustic wave power; and   an acoustic pump driven by said acoustic wave power.   
     
     
         2 . The Stirling engine according to  claim 1 , wherein said acoustic pump is connected to said compression space. 
     
     
         3 . The Stirling engine according to  claim 1 , wherein said acoustic pump is connected to an alternator back space in operational connection with said piston. 
     
     
         4 . The Stirling engine according to  claim 1 , wherein said acoustic pump is connected to a compliance volume. 
     
     
         5 . The Stirling engine according to  claim 1 , wherein said acoustic pump pumps and circulates cooling liquid for said cold heat exchanger.