Energy transducer and method
The invention is an energy transducer that utilizes a material's internal energy as an energy source by operating in a cycle where there is a net loss in the material's internal energy without the need to raise the temperature of the material above ambient temperature. The invention is accomplished by the use of selected materials in which the material's mechanical strain, magnetization or electric polarization can be controlled by cross coupling forces, and where the cross coupling coefficients are not equal to each other in finite operating regions.
1. An energy transducer for the generation of useful work comprising a selected material having internal energy and in which there is a cross coupling between a first energy conjugate physical property of a variable primary force and a second energy conjugate physical property of a variable secondary force, said cross coupling being characterized by cross coupling coefficients that are not equal under conditions when said transducer is in operation, and in which said internal energy is used as an energy source, said transducer being operable in a cycle and being operable without the need to raise the temperature of said material above ambient temperature, said material being under the influence of said variable primary force through which said useful work is generated, said material also being under the influence of said variable secondary force which controls said first energy conjugate physical property to predetermined values.
2. An energy transducer as recited in claim 1 wherein:
said primary force being a magnetic field; and
said first energy conjugate physical property being magnetization.
3. An energy transducer as recited in claim 1 wherein:
said primary force being a mechanical stress; and
said first energy conjugate physical property being mechanical strain.
4. An energy transducer as recited in claim 2 wherein:
said secondary force being a mechanical stress.
5. An energy transducer as recited in claim 3 wherein:
said secondary force being a magnetic field.
6. A method of generating useful work using a selected material having internal energy and in which there is a cross coupling between a first energy conjugate physical property of a variable primary force and a second energy conjugate physical property of a variable secondary force, said cross coupling being characterized by cross coupling coefficients that are not equal under conditions when said method is in operation, and in which said internal energy is used as an energy source, said method being operable in a cycle and being operable without the need to raise the temperature of said material above ambient temperature comprising the steps of:
providing for said variable primary force to said material through which said useful work is generated; and
providing for said variable secondary force which controls said first energy conjugate physical property to predetermined values.
7. A method as recited in claim 6 wherein:
said primary force being a magnetic field; and
said first energy conjugate physical property being magnetization.
8. A method as recited in claim 6 wherein:
said primary force being a mechanical stress; and
said first energy conjugate physical property being mechanical strain.
9. A method as recited in claim 7 wherein:
said secondary force being a mechanical stress.
10. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein:
said secondary force being a magnetic field.