Adaptive regulation system for a linear alternator driven by a free-piston stirling engine
This patent describes an adaptive load regulator for a linear alternator driven by a free piston Stirling engine, having a heat energy source, the alternator having an armature circuit and a useful load connected to the armature circuit, and further including a stepped armature system for controlling the stroke amplitude of the Stirling engine. The regulator and the stepped armature system comprise: (a) a controllably variable conductance shunted across the armature; (b) a negative feedback control circuit comprising: (i) a summing circuit; (ii) a voltage detector means connected to the armature circuit for detecting a signal which is proportional to the alternator output voltage and connected to apply the detected signal to an input of the summing circuit; (iii) a reference signal source connected to apply its reference signal to another input of the summing circuit; and (iv) an amplifier having its input connected to the output of the summing circuit and its output connected to the control input of the controllable, variable conductance for applying a signal which is proportional to the difference of the input signals at the summing circuit to a control input of the variable conductance for varying the conductance in proportion to detected voltage changes; (c) an armature coil divided into a plurality of coils serially connected by one or more taps; (d) circuit means having an input connected to the useful load for detecting the steady state output power demand of the useful load and (e) logic switching means.
- Assignee:
- Sunpower, Inc., Athens, OH
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4642547
- OSTI ID:
- 6733874
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
330201* -- External Combustion Engines-- Stirling Cycle
ALTERNATORS
AMPLITUDES
ARMATURES
CONTROL SYSTEMS
ELECTRIC GENERATORS
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
ENGINES
FEEDBACK
HEAT ENGINES
LOGIC CIRCUITS
PISTONS
SIGNALS
STIRLING ENGINES
SWITCHING CIRCUITS
VOLTAGE REGULATORS