Free piston heat pump - has one end of piston functioning as compressor and other end functioning as IC engine

摘要

A heat pump installation has a double acting free piston (2,7). The larger dia. end of the piston operates in a cylinder (8) and functions as an air compressor with the compressed air supplying heat to the heat exchanger (13). The cooled air is then supplied to the opposite side of the piston and after expansion flows out to atmosphere. The smaller dia. end of the free piston functions as an I.C. engine which helps to drive the compressor piston. The exhaust gases then supply heat to the heat exchanger.