Stirling engine for an emission-free aircraft

Abstract

Aircraft with an emission-free drive and method for emission-free driving of an aircraft. The aircraft includes an aircraft thruster structured and arranged to generate thrust force on the aircraft, an aircraft lift device structured and arranged to generate lift on the aircraft, and a heat engine, which is structured and arranged to convert thermal energy into kinetic energy to drive the aircraft thruster, that includes at least one flat-plate Stirling engine drivable by solar thermal radiation.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An aircraft with an emission-free drive, comprising:
 an aircraft thruster structured and arranged to generate thrust force on the aircraft;   an aircraft lift device structured and arranged to generate lift on the aircraft; and   a heat engine, which is structured and arranged to convert thermal energy into kinetic energy to drive the aircraft thruster, comprising at least one flat-plate Stirling engine drivable by solar thermal radiation.   
     
     
         2 . The aircraft according to  claim 1 , wherein the aircraft lift device comprises a wing with an airfoil section structured and arranged to generate lift, and the flat-plate Stirling engine is arranged in the wing. 
     
     
         3 . The aircraft according to  claim 1 , the flat-plate Stirling engine comprising:
 a working chamber filled with a working gas and having a top and an underside and a changeable working volume;   a displacer structured and arranged to be moveable in the working chamber between the top and the underside;   a regenerator structured and arranged in the working chamber to collect and deliver thermal energy contained in the working gas;   a working piston connected to change a working volume of the working chamber;   a rotatable inertia element comprising at least one of a propeller or a flywheel;   a drive structured and arranged to be connectable to the inertia element to drive the aircraft thruster; and   a transmission structured and arranged to mechanically couple the displacer and the working piston with the inertia element,   wherein the working chamber is located in the aircraft lift device and the working gas is heatable from a top of the aircraft lift device by the solar thermal radiation.   
     
     
         4 . The aircraft according to  claim 3 , further comprising a light-transmitting cover arranged in the aircraft lift device in the top region of the working chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The aircraft according to  claim 1 , further comprising a power-generator structured and arranged to generate electric energy to drive the aircraft. 
     
     
         6 . The aircraft according to  claim 5 , the power-generator comprising a generator structured and arranged to convert kinetic energy into electric energy and to be driven by the flat-plate Stirling engine. 
     
     
         7 . The aircraft according to  claim 5 , the power-generator comprising photovoltaic elements for converting solar radiation into electric energy. 
     
     
         8 . The aircraft according to  claim 5 , the power-generator comprising a fuel cell device, wherein the fuel cell in operation releases heat that is fed to a working chamber of the flat-plate Stirling engine. 
     
     
         9 . The aircraft according to  claim 5 , further comprising an electric storage structured and arranged to store and deliver the electric energy generated by the power-generator,
 wherein the power-generator is arranged to feed the electric energy to the electric storage and the electric storage is structured and arranged to store the electric energy and to make the stored electric energy available for driving the aircraft.   
     
     
         10 . A method for emission-free driving of an aircraft, comprising:
 receiving solar thermal energy by a flat-plate Stirling engine;   converting the thermal energy into kinetic energy via the flat-plate Stirling engine; and   driving, via the flat-plate Stirling engine, an aircraft thruster.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 in a first phase, converting kinetic energy of the flat-plate Stirling engine into electric energy and storing the electric energy; and   in a second phase, converting the stored electric energy into thermal energy in an electric heater, and driving the Stirling engine to provide the kinetic energy for driving the aircraft thruster.   
     
     
         12 . The aircraft according to  claim 1 , wherein the aircraft lift device comprises a wing shaped body or a fluid filled body. 
     
     
         13 . The aircraft according to  claim 1 , wherein the aircraft comprises an airplane or an airship.