Mobile hydraulic power supply: Liquid piston Stirling engine pump

Conventional mobile hydraulic power supplies involve numerous kinematic connections and are limited by the efficiency, noise, and emissions of internal combustion engines. The Stirling cycle possesses numerous benefits such as the ability to operate from any heat source, quiet operation, and high theoretical efficiency. The Stirling engine has seen limited success due to poor heat transfer in the working chambers, difficulty sealing low-molecular weight gases at high pressure, and non-ideal piston displacement profiles. As a solution to these limitations, a liquid piston Stirling engine pump is proposed. The liquid pistons conform to irregular volumes, allowing increased heat transfer through geometry features on the interior of the working chambers. Creating near-isothermal operation eliminates the costly external heat exchangers and increases the engine efficiency through decreasing the engine dead space. The liquid pistons provide a positive gas seal and thermal transport to the working chambers. Controlling the flow of the liquid pistons with valves enables matching the ideal Stirling cycle and creates a direct hydraulic power supply. Using liquid hydrogen as a fuel source allows cooling the compression side of the engine before expanded the fuel into a gas and combusting it to heat the expansion side of the engine. Cooling the compression side not only increases the engine power, but also significantly increases the potential thermal efficiency of the engine. A high efficiency Stirling engine makes energy regeneration through reversing the Stirling cycle practical. When used for regeneration, the captured energy can be stored in thermal batteries, such as a molten salt. The liquid piston Stirling engine pump requires further research in numerous areas such as understanding the behavior of the liquid pistons, modeling and optimization of a full engine pump, and careful selection of materials for the extreme operating temperatures. Addressing these obtainable research quandaries will enable a transformative Stirling engine pump with the potential to excel in numerous applications.     

Multi-objective optimization for GPU3 Stirling engine by combining multi-objective algorithms

Stirling engine has become preferable for high attention towards the use of alternate renewable energy resources like biomass and solar energy. Stirling engine is the main component of dish Stirling system in thermal power generation sector. Stirling engine is an externally heating engine, which theoretical efficiency is as high as Carnot cycle's, but actual ones are always far below compared with the Carnot efficiency. A number of studies have been done on multi-objective optimization to improve the design of Stirling engine. In the current study, a multi-objective optimization method, which is a combination of multiple optimization algorithms including differential evolution, genetic algorithm and adaptive simulated annealing, was proposed. This method is an attempt to generalize and improve the robustness and diversity with above three kinds of population based meta-heuristic optimization techniques. The analogous interpreter was linked and interchanged to find the best global optimal solution for Stirling engine performance optimization. It decreases the chance of convergence at a local minimum by powering from the fact that these three algorithms run parallel and members from each population and technique are swapped. The optimization considers five decision variables, including engine frequency, mean effective pressure, temperature of heating source, number of wires in regenerator matrix, and the wire diameter of regenerator, as multiple objectives. The Pareto optimal frontier was obtained and a final optimal solution was also selected by using various multi-criteria decision making methods including techniques for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution and Simple Additive Weighting. The multi-objective optimization indicated a way for GPU-3 Stirling engine to obtain an output power of more than 3 kW and an increase by 5% in thermal efficiency with significant decrease in power loss due to flow resistance.     

Design and performance optimization of GPU-3 Stirling engines

To increase the performance of Stirling engines and analyze their operations, a second-order Stirling model, which includes thermal losses, has been developed and used to optimize the performance and design parameters of the engine. This model has been tested using the experimental data obtained from the General Motor GPU-3 Stirling engine prototype. The model has also been used to investigate the effect of the geometrical and physical parameters on Stirling engine performance and to determine the optimal parameters for acceptable operational gas pressure. When the optimal design parameters are introduced in the model, the engine efficiency increases from 39% to 51%; the engine power is enhanced by approximately 20%, whereas the engine average pressure increases slightly.     

有限速率过程对活塞式斯特林发动机性能的影响

本文讨论在给定热源温度和压缩比的情况下,过程进行的速率有限,并受热传导不可逆影响的内可逆活塞式斯特林发动机的最优性能,导出以理想气体或范德瓦尔斯气体为工质的斯特林发动机的最大输出功率与热效率的关系,以及最大热效率与输出功率的关系,并推出了一些新的有限时间热力学的性能界限。     

Similarity design and experimental investigation of a beta‐type Stirling engine with a rhombic drive mechanism

Stirling engines are power machines that operate over a closed, regenerative thermodynamic cycle with the ability to use any heat source from the outside, including hydrogen, solar energy, and biomass fuels. In this work, the development of a beta‐type Stirling engine is presented. The improved similarity design and optimization methods are described in detail, as are the key parameters of the constructed prototype and the arrangement of the entire test rig. A new structure for the expansion exchangers is developed to reduce the flow loss. The performance test of the prototype engine is conducted under laboratory conditions using an electrical heating system. In this test, the temperature and the pressure of the working fluid are monitored by thermocouples and pressure sensors, respectively. The speed and the torque of the output shaft are obtained by the dynamometer. Finally, the preliminary test results with the prototype engine are shown. The maximum output shaft power can reach 288 W at 600°C and 15‐bar charge pressure. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A multiobjective thermodynamic optimization of a nanoscale Stirling engine operated with Maxwell‐Boltzmann gas

Recent developments in nanotechnology provided an opportunity to solve many complex problems in the field of energy. Performance investigation of the nanoscale thermal cycles can prove crucial in the development of efficient and less polluting energy system. Due to the influence of boundary phenomenon and quantum degeneracy effects, a nanoscale engine performs according to statistical quantum thermodynamics instead of classical thermodynamics. In this study, a nanoscale Stirling engine operating on an ideal Maxwell‐Boltzmann gas is investigated for multiobjective optimization. Optimization problem of Stirling cycle is formed considering the thermal efficiency, ecological coefficient of performance and entropy generation. An application example of a nanoscale Stirling engine is presented and solved using Heat Transfer Search algorithm. Maxwell‐Boltzmann gas restricted in a finite domain is studied and the effect of different parameters, such as surface area ratio, volume ratio, and temperature ratio of the domain, is investigated. Sensitivity analysis is carried out to identify the effect of design variables on the performance parameters. Further, influence of the source temperature and the number of particles of working fluid on the objective functions is studied and presented.     

Performance optimization of Stirling engines

The search for an engine cycle with high efficiency, multi-sources of energy and less pollution has led to reconsideration of the Stirling cycle. Several engine prototypes were designed but their performances remain relatively weak when compared with other types of combustion engines. In order to increase their performances and analyze their operations, a numerical simulation model taking into account thermal losses has been developed and used, in this paper, to optimize the engine performance. This model has been tested using the experimental data obtained from the General Motor GPU-3 Stirling engine prototype. A good correlation between experimental data and model prediction has been found. The model has also been used to investigate the influence of geometrical and physical parameters on the Stirling engine performance and to determine the optimal parameters for an acceptable operational gas pressure.     

Numerical prediction of performance of a low-temperature-differential gamma-type Stirling engine

Abstract

In this study, a numerical simulation model is used to analyze thermodynamic performance of a low temperature-differential gamma-type Stirling engine by adjusting some values of the operating and geometrical parameters around a designated baseline case. The influences of these operating and geometrical parameters on engine performance such as working fluid materials, the stroke of piston and displacer, charged pressure, the heating temperature, and so on, are concerned. A numerical simulation model is established based on turbulent flow assumption and the realizable k – ε model is employed to solve the flow and thermal fields in the engine. In regard to flow in regenerator, Darcy–Forchheimer model was used to depict dynamic behavior of working fluid. Besides, thermal equilibrium model was used for solving the energy equation. Finally, working fluid in the engine undergoes a wide range of pressure and temperature so the effects of temperature and pressure on the viscosity and thermal conductivity of the working fluid are required to include. Thermal conductivity of porous medium matrix is affected by wide range of temperature as well.     

Application of the multi-objective optimization method for designing a powered Stirling heat engine: Design with maximized power,thermal efficiency and minimized pressure loss

In the recent years, numerous studies have been done on Stirling cycle and Stirling engine which have been resulted in different output power and engine thermal efficiency analyses. Finite speed thermodynamic analysis is one of the most prominent ways which considers external irreversibilities. In the present study, output power and engine thermal efficiency are optimized and total pressure losses are minimized using NSGA algorithm and finite speed thermodynamic analysis. The results are successfully verified against experimental data.     

Study of a Stirling engine used for domestic micro‐cogeneration. Thermodynamic analysis and experiment

One of the aims of this work is the study of the geometry of a micro‐cogenerator using a Stirling engine with four double effect pistons. The complex geometry of the heat exchangers was determined by optical measurements. Results of three thermodynamic models: Direct Method from Finite Speed Thermodynamics (FST), isothermal model (Schmidt), and adiabatic model (Finkelstein) are confronted to experimental ones. Direct Method consists of the study and the evaluation of the irreversibilities of thermal machines by analyzing the cycle, step by step, and directly integrating the equation of the First Law for processes with finite speed combined with Second Law of Thermodynamics, for each process of the cycle. The expression of efficiency and power, depending on the speed of the processes and geometric and functional parameters, is then obtained in a straightforward manner. The isothermal and adiabatic models are based on the division of Stirling engine in 3, respectively 5 control volumes, for which the ideal gas law and the equations of mass and energy balance are applied. Analysis of the process of heat transfer and flow of the working gas, taking place in the Stirling engine, is carried out taking into account instantaneous representation of the working fluid volume in the engine. A system of differential equations is solved by iteration using Matlab/Simulink software. The theoretical results are compared to experimental ones. This comparison allows to point out a good accuracy of the Direct Method and the Adiabatic Model, for the thermal operating parameters of the system, noting the different assumptions of each analysis. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermal model of a dish/Stirling systems

This paper presents a global thermal model of the energy conversion of the 10 kW_el Eurodish dish/Stirling unit erected at the CNRS-PROMES laboratory in Odeillo. Using optical measurements made by DLR, the losses by parabola reflectivity and spillage are calculated. A nodal method is used to calculate the heat losses in the cavity by conduction, convection, reflection and thermal radiation. A thermodynamic analysis of a SOLO Stirling 161 engine is made. The Stirling engine is divided in 32 control-volumes and equations of ideal gas, mass and energy conservation are written for each control-volume. The differential equation system is resolved by an iterative method developed using Matlab^™ programming environment. Temperature, mass, density of working gas, heat transfers and the mechanical power are calculated for one Stirling engine cycle of 40 ms and for a constant direct normal irradiation (DNI). The model gives consistent results correctly fitting with experimental measurements.     

Stirling engines using working fluids with strong real gas effects

Real gas effects typical of the critical region of working fluids are a powerful tool to increase the energy performances of Stirling cycles, mainly at low top temperatures. To carry out the compression near the critical region the working fluids must have a critical temperature near environmental conditions and the use of organic working substances (pure or in suitable mixtures) as a matter of fact begins compulsory. The moderate thermal stability of the organic working fluids limits the maximum temperatures to 300–400 °C and as a consequence, the achievable cycles efficiencies result rather low. Carbon dioxide, with a critical temperature of 31 °C, is, among the traditionally inorganic gases, an exception and is considered here in comparison with organic substances. But the good thermodynamics of the cycles allows, in the considered cases, conversion efficiencies of about 20%, with good specific powers. The good energy performance of real gas Stirling cycles is obtained at the cost of high maximum cycle pressure, in the range of at least 100–300 bar. These high pressures nevertheless have large positive effects on the heat power transferred per unit of pumping mechanical power, and the low top temperatures have a positive influence on the material problems for the hottest engine parts.     

不同优化准则下斯特林发动机的性能分析

应用有限时间热力学原理.建立了一个考虑热阻、热漏和回热损失等不可逆因素的斯特林发动机模型;推导了最大输出功率、最大效率和生态学优化准则下,斯特林发动机性能的表达式;比较了三种优化准则下,热漏系数和回热器有效性对斯特林发动机性能的影响.研究表明:对热漏损失和回热损失较大的斯特林发动机,宜选用生态学优化准则.为斯特林发动机...     

Energy system feasibility study of an Otto cycle/Stirling cycle hybrid automotive engine

The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of utilising a Stirling cycle engine as an exhaust gas waste heat recovery device for an Otto cycle internal combustion engine (ICE) in the context of an automotive power plant. The hybrid arrangement would produce increased brake power output for a given fuel consumption rate when compared to an ICE alone. The study was dealt with from an energy system perspective with design practicalities such as power train integration, location of auxiliaries, manufacture costs and other general plant design considerations neglected. The study necessitated work in two distinct areas: experimental assessment of the performance characteristics of an existing automotive Otto cycle ICE and mathematical modelling of the Stirling cycle engine based on the output parameters of the ICE. It was subsequently found to be feasible in principle to generate approximately further 30% useful power in addition to that created by the ICE by using a Stirling cycle engine to capture waste heat expelled from the ICE exhaust gases over the complete range of engine operating speeds.     

斯特林发动机功率控制系统设计

基于Matlab的建模仿真,采用PID调节,设计一种斯特林发动机功率控制方法,对GPU-3β型斯特林发动机以改变压力的方式进行功率调节.根据20组实际数值模拟出传递函数,模拟的数据与真实数据对比符合度高于99％.输入压力值通过传递函数计算得到实际的输出功率,调节输入压力值,输出结果随之改变.结果表明运用闭环负反馈和PI...     

1.2 kW beta type Stirling engine with rhombic drive mechanism

Because of some advantages such as higher theoretical thermal efficiency, lower pollutant release, working with lower noisy, working with any kind of thermal energy, and having longer life time, Stirling engines receive attentions of academic workers. The development studies related to the drive mechanism as well as the other components of Stirling engine are progressing. In the present study, a beta type Stirling engine with a rhombic‐drive mechanism was manufactured and tested. Tests were performed at hot end temperatures of 600 and 800°C for five different stages of charge pressure ranging from 1 to 5 bar with 1 bar increments. Torque and power characteristics of the engine were deduced. The maximum engine torque and power were obtained as 18 Nm and 1215 W at engine speeds of 612 and 722 rpm, respectively, at 4 bar charging pressure. The cyclic work generations of the engine, which is an important parameter indicating the engine performance, were determined as 19, 27, and 25 J corresponding to 1, 3, and 5 bar charging pressures, respectively. In the experiments, the cylinder pressure variation was also measured at various charging pressures. While the charge pressure increases from 1 to 5 bar, the location of the maximum cylinder pressure ranged from 86° to 74° of crankshaft angle, which may have a bit influence on the engine performance. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

分置式斯特林发动机热力性能的仿真

对斯特林发动机的压缩与膨胀过程进行了变质量系统热力学分析。利用等温模型分析法,引入流动阻力损失的计算模型,模拟了分置式斯特林发动机内部工质的压力等参数的动态变化规律。仿真结果表明：斯特林发动机在运行过程中压缩腔与膨胀腔的气体压力并不时时相等;提高发动机的转速和高温热源温度,可以增加发动机的输出功率。     

碟式斯特林发动机的研究进展

太阳能的利用和斯特林发动机的研发符合目前解决全球能源危机问题的需要。对斯特林热机的发展过程和循环工作原理进行了总结,综述了国内外对于碟式斯特林发电技术的应用现状,归纳了碟式斯特林发电系统中太阳光跟踪控制系统、接收器聚热技术、斯特林发动机功率控制技术和斯特林发动机密封技术等关键技术的研究成果和应用现状,总结并展望了碟式斯特林发电技术的发展重心,为进一步的研究工作提供参考。     

Numerical model and investigations of the externally heated valve Joule engine

The mineral fuels used recently, i.e., oil and gas, will be soon exploited out. This paper presents an idea of the engine where any fuel or solar heat can be used as a source of energy. The proposed model is an externally heated, 2-stroke, valve engine (EHVE). This is a piston-type engine, entirely different from the well-known Stirling one, which is the best known example of such a solution. It works in a closed Joule cycle and is designed to produce a moderate amount of energy. The engine is composed of typical parts met in piston designs: an expander, a compressor, a heater, a cooler and, additionally, two recirculation blowers, which consume a small amount of produced power. An additional advantage is its working medium, which may be simply atmospheric air and the engine has a conventional crankshaft and an oil lubrication system. It has already been proven that operation of the EHVE is possible with satisfactory power and efficiency at the output. Comparisons of the EHVE action with and without recirculation blowers are performed.     

Performance of an air-cooled looped thermoacoustic engine capable of recovering low-grade thermal energy

An air-cooled looped thermoacoustic engine is designed and constructed, where an air-cooled cold heat exchanger (consisting of copper heat transfer block, aluminum flange, and aluminum fin plate) is adopted to extract heat and the resonant tube is spiraled and shaped to fit to the available space. Experiments have been conducted to observe how onset temperature difference and resonant frequency are affected by mean pressure, working fluid, and diameter of compliance tube. Besides, the influences of temperature difference, mean pressure, working fluid and diameter of compliance tube on pressure amplitude, output acoustic power, and thermal efficiency of the system have been investigated. The air-cooled looped thermoacoustic engine can start to oscillate at a lowest temperature difference of 46°C, with the working fluid of carbon dioxide at 2.34 MPa. A highest output acoustic power obtained is 6.65 W at a temperature difference of 199°C, with the working gas of helium at 2.58 MPa, and the thermal efficiency is 2.21%. This work verifies the feasibility of utilizing low-grade thermal energy to drive an air-cooled looped thermoacoustic engine and extends its application in the water deficient areas.