TWI900160B - Multi-cylinder linear motion Stirling hot and cold compound machine - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention proposes a multi-cylinder linear-actuated Stirling combined cooling and heating unit design. This unit primarily achieves multi-cylinder series-parallel integration through the design of an actuating piston and a linear motor. By connecting the second inlet and outlet of a first operating unit to the first inlet and outlet of a second operating unit, each linear motor is directly driven by electrical energy input to actuate the pistons as needed, causing the working fluid to flow back and forth between an expansion chamber of the first operating unit and a compression chamber of the second operating unit, achieving both cooling and heat pumping. This design can be applied to heating and cooling air conditioning systems, water heaters, and energy conservation, resolving the issues of conventional combined cooling and heating units, which have limited their ability to simplify their structures and effectively reduce energy consumption.

Description

Multi-cylinder linear motion Stirling hot and cold compound machine

This invention relates to the technical field of heating and cooling machines, and in particular to a multi-cylinder linear actuation Stirling combined heating and cooling machine.

With the advancement of technology, heat pumps and refrigeration air conditioners have become indispensable household appliances. In high-altitude countries like Europe and America, heat pumps are widely used in hot water and heating systems. In subtropical Taiwan and Southeast Asia, heat pumps are also widely used in household water heaters, with reversible applications for refrigeration air conditioners. In Taiwan, nearly 60% of summer electricity consumption is used for cooling equipment like air conditioners and refrigerators, while nearly 12% is used for heating equipment like water heaters and electric cookers. These devices together account for over 50% of total annual electricity consumption.

The known Stirling heating and cooling machine of patent TWI759219B includes a cabinet having a refrigerated space, a cold head space, and a hot part space, wherein an air inlet and an air outlet are provided between the refrigerated space and the cold head space, and an insulating layer is provided between the cold head space and the hot part space. At least one power unit includes a cylinder and a piston. A pipeline is connected to the cylinder. A plurality of Stirling refrigeration components are provided, each Stirling refrigeration component includes a pipe and a passive air displacer, the passive air displacer being reciprocally disposed within the pipe to divide the pipe into a cold head and a hot part, the cold head being located in the cold head space, the hot part being located in the hot part space, and the hot part being connected to the aforementioned pipeline. However, it is a single Stirling and does not use linear motor technology, so it cannot achieve the effect of simplifying the structure.

In addition, other known Stirling heating and cooling engines mostly use connecting rods to transmit piston movement. This is a complex and bulky structure, and the number of cylinders is limited by the structure.

Therefore, this patent is proposed to achieve energy conservation by simultaneously producing cooling and pumping heat, thereby more effectively reducing energy consumption.

The main purpose of this invention is to provide a multi-cylinder linear actuated Stirling combined cooling and heating unit with a simplified structure that can achieve simultaneous cooling and heat pumping effects.

To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present invention provides a multi-cylinder linear actuated Stirling hot and cold compound machine, comprising a first operating device and a second operating device, wherein the first operating device and the second operating device each have an upper cylinder module and a linear motor; the upper cylinder module has a cylinder member, a piston, and a heat transfer group; wherein: the cylinder member has a piston hole, a first inlet and outlet connected to the piston hole, a conduction hole connected to the piston hole, and a heat transfer group connected to the heat transfer group; a second inlet and outlet; wherein the second inlet and outlet of the upper cylinder module of the first operating device is connected to the first inlet and outlet of the upper cylinder module of the second operating device; the piston reciprocates in the piston hole, forming a compression chamber between the piston of the upper cylinder module and the first inlet and outlet, and an expansion chamber between the piston of the upper cylinder module and the conducting hole; the heat transfer assembly is disposed in the conducting hole; and the linear motor drives the axial displacement of the piston of the upper cylinder module.

The linear motors independently control the actuation of the pistons, causing the working fluid to flow back and forth between the expansion chamber of the first operating device and the compression chamber of the second operating device. The multi-cylinder linear Stirling combined heating and cooling machine provided by the present invention achieves both heating and cooling effects through the heat transfer assembly disposed in the transfer hole, the second inlet and outlet of the first operating device connecting to the first inlet and outlet of the second operating device, and the linear motors independently driving the pistons, resulting in a more streamlined structure.

Preferably, the cylinder member of the upper cylinder module has a piston wall, and the piston hole is formed on the inner edge of the piston wall.

Preferably, the conducting hole of the cylinder member of the upper cylinder module is adjacent to the outer edge of the piston wall.

Preferably, the heat transfer assembly of the upper cylinder module comprises a heat absorber, a regenerator, and a heat radiator in sequence, the heat absorber being close to the expansion chamber, and the heat radiator being close to the second inlet and outlet.

Preferably, the second inlet and outlet of the cylinder module on the second operating device is connected to the first inlet and outlet of the cylinder module on the first operating device.

Preferably, the first operating device and the second operating device each comprise a lower cylinder module; the lower cylinder module comprises a cylinder member, a piston, and a heat transfer assembly; wherein: the cylinder member comprises a piston hole, a first inlet and outlet connected to the piston hole, a conduction hole connected to the piston hole, and a second inlet and outlet connected to the conduction hole; wherein the first inlet and outlet of the lower cylinder module of the first operating device is connected to the second inlet and outlet of the lower cylinder module of the second operating device; the piston reciprocates in the piston hole, forming an expansion chamber between the piston of the lower cylinder module and the first inlet and outlet, and a compression chamber between the piston of the lower cylinder module and the conduction hole; the heat transfer assembly is disposed in the conduction hole; and the linear motor drives the axial displacement of the piston of the lower cylinder module.

Preferably, the cylinder member of the lower cylinder module has a piston wall, and the piston hole is formed on the inner edge of the piston wall.

Preferably, the conducting hole of the cylinder member of the lower cylinder module is adjacent to the outer edge of the piston wall.

Preferably, the heat transfer assembly of the lower cylinder module comprises a heat absorber, a regenerator, and a heat radiator in sequence, wherein the heat absorber is close to the second inlet and outlet, and the heat radiator is close to the compression chamber.

Preferably, the first inlet and outlet of the cylinder module under the second operating device is connected to the second inlet and outlet of the cylinder module under the first operating device.

1A: First operating device

1B: Second operating device

2’: Upper cylinder module

2”: Lower cylinder module

10: Cylinder parts

11: Cylinder body

13: Piston wall

14: Piston hole

15: First entrance and exit

16: Conducting hole

17: Second entrance and exit

20: Piston

30: Heat transfer group

31: Heat Absorber

32: Regenerator

33: Heater

40: Linear Motor

41: Body

42: Shaft

43: Magnetic Components

44: Coil

C: Compression chamber

E: Expansion chamber

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a multi-cylinder linear actuation Stirling hot and cold combination machine according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an operating device of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the operation and use of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing the connection of more operating devices in the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a multi-cylinder linear actuation Stirling hot and cold combination machine according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of an operating device according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating the second preferred embodiment of the present invention in operation.

Figure 8 is a schematic diagram showing the connection of more operating devices in the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

To illustrate the technical features of the present invention in detail, the following first preferred embodiment is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Terms such as "first," "second," "third," and similar terms used in the preferred embodiment of the present invention do not indicate any order or importance but are merely used to distinguish features.

As shown in Figure 1, the multi-cylinder linear actuated Stirling hot and cold combined machine of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention is composed of two interconnected operating devices.

The two operating devices are the first operating device 1A and the second operating device 1B.

As shown in Figure 2, the first operating device 1A and the second operating device 1B each have an upper cylinder module 2' and a linear motor 40.

The upper cylinder module 2' comprises a cylinder member 10, a piston 20, and a heat transfer assembly 30. The cylinder member 10 comprises a cylinder body 11, a piston wall 13, a piston bore 14, a conduction hole 16, a first inlet/outlet 15, and a second inlet/outlet 17. The piston wall 13 is formed within the cylinder body 11, the piston bore 14 is formed within the piston wall 13, and the conduction hole 16 is formed between the cylinder body 11 and the piston wall 13. The conduction hole 16 connects to the piston bore 14, the first inlet/outlet 15 connects to the piston bore 14, and the second inlet/outlet 17 connects to the conduction hole 16.

In this first preferred embodiment, the second inlet and outlet 17 of the cylinder module 2' on the first operating device 1A is connected to the first inlet and outlet 15 of the cylinder module 2' on the second operating device 1B.

The piston 20 reciprocates in the piston hole 14, forming a compression chamber C between the piston 20 of the upper cylinder module 2' and the first inlet and outlet 15, and an expansion chamber E between the piston 20 of the upper cylinder module 2' and the conducting hole 16.

The heat transfer assembly 30 is disposed within the transfer hole 16 and comprises a heat absorber 31, a regenerator 32, and a heat emitter 33. In this first preferred embodiment, the heat absorber 31 is located near the expansion chamber E, and the heat emitter 33 is located near the second inlet/outlet 17. The heat absorber 31 may be, but is not limited to, a heat-conducting fin or other heat-conducting material. The regenerator 32 may be, but is not limited to, a porous metal or ceramic material. The heat emitter 33 may be, but is not limited to, a heat-conducting fin or other heat-conducting material.

The linear motor 40 drives the piston 20 axially. In this embodiment, the linear motor 40 comprises a body 41, a shaft 42, a magnetic element 43, and a coil 44. The shaft 42 is connected to the piston 20, the magnetic element 43 is mounted on the shaft 42, and the coil 44 is mounted on the body 41, surrounding the magnetic element 43. By energizing the coil 44, the guided magnetic flux interacts with the magnetic field of the magnetic element 43 to generate thrust. The magnetic element 43 moves, driving the shaft 42, which in turn drives the piston 20 in various directions and distances.

The linear motors 40 control the movement of the pistons 20, causing the working fluid to flow back and forth between the expansion chamber E of the cylinder module 2' on the first operating device 1A and the compression chamber C of the cylinder module 2' on the second operating device 1B.

From the above structural description, it can be seen that the multi-cylinder linear actuation Stirling combined heating and cooling machine provided by the present invention performs heating and cooling operations as described in steps (a)-(d) in Figure 3 below.

Step (a) is that the linear motor 40 of the first operating device 1A on the left drives the piston 20 of the upper cylinder module 2' to move toward the bottom dead center.

In step (b), the working fluid in the expansion chamber E of the first operating device 1A is forced to expand and absorb heat, thereby causing the temperature of the cylinder 10 outside the expansion chamber E of the first operating device 1A to drop, achieving a cooling effect.

The actuation step (c) is when the linear motor 40 drives the piston 20 of the second operating device 1B and the piston 20 of the first operating device 1A to move to the top dead center simultaneously.

In step (d), the linear motor 40 of the second operating device 1B drives the piston 20 of the upper cylinder module 2' toward the compression chamber C. As the piston 20 of the second operating device 1B moves downward, the working fluid in the compression chamber C of the second operating device 1B is forcibly compressed, generating heat. This raises the temperature of the cylinder component 10 outside the compression chamber C of the second operating device 1B, achieving a heating effect.

Finally, step (d) will continue with step (a) to complete a thermodynamic cycle. Repeating this cycle will transfer heat energy from the low-temperature heat source to the high-temperature heat source, achieving both heat pumping and cooling effects.

In this first preferred embodiment, the second inlet/outlet 17 of the first operating device 1A connects to the first inlet/outlet 15 of the second operating device 1B. The heat transfer assembly 30 is located in the transfer hole 16 between the cylinder body 11 and the piston wall 13, achieving improved heat transfer. The piston 20 of the second operating device 1B and the piston 20 of the first operating device 1A are driven by the linear motor 40 to achieve simultaneous cooling and heat pumping effects. The linear motor 40 adjusts the motion trajectory to drive the piston 20, thereby enhancing the piston's 20 movement. Therefore, this first preferred embodiment simplifies the structure and improves the heating and cooling efficiencies of the present invention, thereby achieving a combined heating and cooling effect and fulfilling the purpose of the present invention.

Figure 4 shows the connection diagram of multiple operating devices in the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. The multi-cylinder linear actuation Stirling combined heating and cooling unit is connected to multiple operating devices 1A and 1B on both sides, achieving multiple cylinder actuation, producing a combined heating and cooling effect and achieving greater efficiency.

In the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second inlet/outlet 17 of the cylinder module 2' on the rightmost second operating device 1B can be connected to the first inlet/outlet 15 of the cylinder module 2' on the leftmost first operating device 1A, thereby fully utilizing the compression and expansion chambers.

As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, a multi-cylinder linear-actuated Stirling combined cooling and heating machine, is a variation of the structure of the first preferred embodiment described above. It includes a first operating device 1A and a second operating device 1B. The first operating device 1A and the second operating device 1B each have the upper cylinder module 2' and the linear motor 40. The main difference is that the first operating device 1A and the second operating device 1B each also have a lower cylinder module 2".

The lower cylinder module 2" comprises a cylinder member 10, a piston 20, and a heat transfer assembly 30. The following are the features: The cylinder member 10 has a piston hole 14, a first inlet and outlet 15 connected to the piston hole 14, a conduction hole 16 connected to the piston hole 14, and a second inlet and outlet 17 connected to the conduction hole 16.

In this second preferred embodiment, the first inlet and outlet 15 of the cylinder module 2" below the first operating device 1A is connected to the second inlet and outlet 17 of the cylinder module 2" below the second operating device 1B.

The piston 20 reciprocates within the piston hole 14. An expansion chamber E is formed between the piston 20 of the lower cylinder module 2" and the first inlet and outlet 15. A compression chamber C is formed between the piston 20 of the lower cylinder module 2" and the conducting hole 16.

The heat transfer assembly 30 is disposed in the transfer hole 16. In the second preferred embodiment, the heat absorber 31 is located near the second inlet and outlet 17, and the heat radiator 33 is located near the compression chamber C.

The linear motor 40 drives the axial displacement of the piston 20 of the lower cylinder module 2".

The linear motors 40 control the movement of the pistons 20, causing the working fluid to flow back and forth between the expansion chamber E of the cylinder module 2" below the first operating device 1A and the compression chamber C of the cylinder module 2" below the second operating device 1B.

As shown in Figure 7, this is an illustration of the operation of the second preferred embodiment. The operation of the upper cylinder module 2' is the same as that of the first embodiment and will not be repeated here.

The operation of the lower cylinder module 2 is as follows:

In step (a), the linear motor 40 of the first operating device 1A drives the piston 20 of the lower cylinder module 2" toward the bottom dead center.

In step (b), the working fluid in the expansion chamber E of the lower cylinder module 2" of the first operating device 1A is forced to expand and absorb heat. The temperature of the cylinder component 10 outside the expansion chamber E of the lower cylinder module 2" of the first operating device 1A drops, achieving a cooling effect.

Actuation step (c) occurs when the linear motor 40 drives the piston 20 of the cylinder module 2" below the second operating device 1B and the piston 20 of the cylinder module 2" below the first operating device 1A to move to their top dead centers simultaneously.

Step (d) The linear motor 40 of the second operating device 1B drives the piston 20 of the lower cylinder module 2" toward the compression chamber C. At this point, the working fluid in the compression chamber C of the lower cylinder module 2" of the second operating device 1B is forcibly compressed, generating heat. This raises the temperature of the cylinder component 10 outside the compression chamber C of the lower cylinder module 2" of the second operating device 1B, achieving a heating effect.

The remaining structure and achievable effects of this second preferred embodiment are the same as those of the first preferred embodiment and will not be described in detail.

The second preferred embodiment of the present invention utilizes a combination of multiple upper and lower cylinder modules 2', 2", achieving a multi-cylinder actuation system. This further achieves the dual heating and cooling supply effect at both ends, further achieving the purpose of the present invention.

Figure 8 shows the connection diagram of multiple operating devices in the second preferred embodiment of the present invention. The multi-cylinder linear actuation Stirling combined heating and cooling unit is connected to multiple operating devices 1A and 1B on both sides, achieving multiple cylinder actuation, producing a combined heating and cooling effect and achieving greater efficiency.

In the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first inlet/outlet 15 of the cylinder module 2" below the second operating device 1B on the far right can be connected to the second inlet/outlet 17 of the cylinder module 2" below the first operating device 1A on the far left, thereby fully utilizing both the compression and expansion chambers.

1A: First operating device

1B: Second operating device

2’: Upper cylinder module

2”: Lower cylinder module

10: Cylinder parts

15: First entrance and exit

17: Second entrance and exit

20: Piston

30: Heat transfer group

40: Linear Motor

Claims (10)

A multi-cylinder linear-actuated Stirling hot and cold combined machine comprises: A first operating device and a second operating device, each comprising an upper cylinder module and a linear motor; The upper cylinder module comprises a cylinder member, a piston, and a heat transfer group; The cylinder member comprises a piston hole, a first inlet and outlet connected to the piston hole, a conduction hole connected to the piston hole, and a second inlet and outlet connected to the conduction hole; The second inlet and outlet of the upper cylinder module of the first operating device is connected to the first inlet and outlet of the upper cylinder module of the second operating device; The piston reciprocates in the piston hole, forming a compression chamber between the piston of the upper cylinder module and the first inlet and outlet, and an expansion chamber between the piston of the upper cylinder module and the conduction hole; The heat transfer group is disposed in the conduction hole; The linear motor drives the axial displacement of the piston of the upper cylinder module. A multi-cylinder linear actuated Stirling hot and cold combined machine as described in claim 1, wherein the cylinder member of the upper cylinder module has a piston wall, and the piston hole is formed on the inner edge of the piston wall. A multi-cylinder linear actuated Stirling hot and cold combined machine as described in claim 2, wherein the conducting hole of the cylinder part of the upper cylinder module is adjacent to the outer edge of the piston wall. A multi-cylinder linear actuated Stirling hot and cold combined machine as described in claim 1, wherein the heat transfer group of the upper cylinder module has a heat absorber, a regenerator and a heat releaser in sequence, the heat absorber is close to the expansion chamber, and the heat releaser is close to the second inlet and outlet. A multi-cylinder linear actuated Stirling hot and cold combined machine as described in claim 1, wherein the second inlet and outlet of the cylinder module on the second operating device is connected to the first inlet and outlet of the cylinder module on the first operating device. A multi-cylinder linear actuated Stirling hot and cold combined machine as described in claim 1, wherein the first operating device and the second operating device each have a lower cylinder module; the lower cylinder module has a cylinder member, a piston, and a heat transfer group; wherein: the cylinder member has a piston hole, a first inlet and outlet connected to the piston hole, a conduction hole connected to the piston hole, and a second inlet and outlet connected to the conduction hole; wherein the first inlet and outlet of the lower cylinder module of the first operating device is connected to the second inlet and outlet of the lower cylinder module of the second operating device; the piston reciprocates in the piston hole, forming an expansion chamber between the piston of the lower cylinder module and the first inlet and outlet, and forming a compression chamber between the piston of the lower cylinder module and the conduction hole; the heat transfer group is disposed in the conduction hole; The linear motor drives the axial displacement of the piston of the lower cylinder module. A multi-cylinder linear actuated Stirling hot and cold combined machine as described in claim 6, wherein the cylinder member of the lower cylinder module has a piston wall, and the piston hole is formed on the inner edge of the piston wall. A multi-cylinder linear actuated Stirling hot and cold combined machine as described in claim 7, wherein the conducting hole of the cylinder part of the lower cylinder module is adjacent to the outer edge of the piston wall. A multi-cylinder linear motion Stirling hot and cold combined machine as described in claim 6, wherein the heat transfer group of the lower cylinder module has a heat absorber, a regenerator and a heat emitter in sequence, the heat absorber is close to the second inlet and outlet, and the heat emitter is close to the compression chamber. A multi-cylinder linear actuated Stirling hot and cold combined machine as described in claim 6, wherein the first inlet and outlet of the cylinder module under the second operating device is connected to the second inlet and outlet of the cylinder module under the first operating device.