Patent ID: 8432047

Claim:
A system for generating electric power, comprising a device for converting thermodynamic energy into electrical energy, which comprises: a piston/cylinder unit which includes a pressure cylinder and a piston that is arranged in the pressure cylinder and is linearly movable by a change in volume of a working medium; a generator which includes a magnet and a coil, the magnet or the coil being coupled to the piston such that a linear movement of the piston affects a linear movement of the magnet relative to the coil; a component that measures at least one process parameter; and a controller which controls the working stroke of the device as a function of at least one measured process parameter; and further comprising a thermodynamic device connected upstream for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy of motion, which comprises: a working medium, a first, higher temperature heat reservoir, in which the working medium is heated by supplying thermal energy and experiences an expansion in volume, a second, lower temperature heat reservoir, in which the working medium is cooled down and experiences a contraction in volume, the expanding working medium being supplied to the piston/cylinder unit and the controller controlling the supply of the working medium to the piston/cylinder unit as a function of the at least one measured process parameter, at least one sensor for obtaining sensor data, wherein the controller evaluates sensor data and automatically arranges for the adjustment of filling levels and/or velocities of flow of the working medium in dependence on a maximum efficiency achievable based on the sensor data, and wherein the piston/cylinder unit includes a working chamber which is adjacent to the piston and is connected to the first and second heat reservoirs, respectively, via a pair of ducts having ports, and wherein intake and outlet volume of the working chamber is controlled via the ports which are adapted to be selectively opened and closed by the controller based on an evaluation of the sensor data indicating a maximum achievable efficiency.