ROTARY STIRLING ENGINE WITH EXTERNAL HEAT SUPPLY Russian patent published in 1999 - IPC

FIELD: engine manufacture. SUBSTANCE: engine has rectangular-section annular stator accommodating rotor mounted on fixed axis of revolution and provided with blades sliding over inner generating line of stator. Blades compress working medium (gas) in compression chamber at top dead center and convey it over stator channels to heater wherein it is heated to 600 K. Heated gas is conveyed over stator channels arranged at 45 deg past TDC to front working chamber held at compression chamber pressure. In this chamber, working medium expands first according to isobar and then, upon disconnection from heater, according to adiabatic curve; heat of expanding gas is converted into mechanical work of revolving rotor and working medium completes its flow in expanding cooler and returns to initial condition. Engine operates in closed double-stroke cycle. Important feature of engine is difference in areas of each channel blades. With five blades, compression chamber shut-off is ensured and pressure within chamber rises after every turn of rotor through 72, 45, and 27 deg. Energy is supplied from concentrated sun rays incident on heater which makes engine useful for space vehicles. Natural gas is used for engines operating on ground. EFFECT: improved efficiency of engine. 3 dwg