新型回热器结构设计及换热特性研究

回热器作为斯特林热机的关键部件,对于太阳能斯特林热机整机性能有着重要影响。为克服传统金属丝网回热器结构存在的填料单一,制造成本较高,工艺复杂问题,采用实用等温分析法,以回热器的长径比、通流面积、填料种类以及孔隙率各项回热器参数为基础,设计了一种新型斯特林热机回热器,该回热器具有轴向压降小,换热性能高,结构稳定,加工制造简单的特点。开展了新型回热器和传统金属丝网回热器的换热性能对比研究,采用振荡条件下的局部热平衡方法研究回热器的传热过程,对比传统金属丝网回热器和新型回热器的温度变化,速度变化以及压力变化。结果表明:在整体孔隙率相同的条件下,新型回热器和传统金属丝网回热器相比,整体启动速率相似,但新型回热器压降减少0.04 MPa,速度出现分段式变化,有利于回热器的换热和结构稳定。因此,新型回热器不但在结构上优于传统金属丝网回热器,在换热特性上也优于传统金属丝网回热器。     

Thermodynamic analysis of a Stirling engine including dead volumes of hot space, cold space and regenerator

This paper provides a theoretical investigation on the thermodynamic analysis of a Stirling engine. An isothermal model is developed for an imperfect regeneration Stirling engine with dead volumes of hot space, cold space and regenerator that the regenerator effective temperature is an arithmetic mean of the heater and cooler temperature. Numerical simulation is performed and the effects of the regenerator effectiveness and dead volumes are studied. Results from this study indicate that the engine net work is affected by only the dead volumes while the heat input and engine efficiency are affected by both the regenerator effectiveness and dead volumes. The engine net work decreases with increasing dead volume. The heat input increases with increasing dead volume and decreasing regenerator effectiveness. The engine efficiency decreases with increasing dead volume and decreasing regenerator effectiveness.     

SIZE LIMITS FOR REGENERATIVE HEAT ENGINES

This article explores the lower size limit placed on regenerative heat engines by thermodynamics and heat transfer. Information derived in this work has direct relevance to the development of mesoscopic heat engines that are based on standard gas cycles employing regeneration. A model is developed for the Stirling cycle that incorporates a regenerator effectiveness term and an axial conduction term, both of which are dependent on the length scale of the device. The thermal efficiency for the engine is determined in terms of the cycle temperature ratio, the expansion ratio, regenerator effectiveness, and a nondimensional term called the conduction parameter. Results from this study show that a small-scale heat engine fabricated from a low-thermal-conductivity material can be made with a length scale approaching 1 mm. Such a device would undoubtedly be composed of numerous microscale components. Below the 1-mm limit, efficiency suffers to such a degree that solid-state thermoelectric devices would become a better choice for a particular application.     

The impact of heat exchanger fouling on the optimum operation and maintenance of the Stirling engine

This paper focuses on the effect of heat exchanger fouling on the performance of the Stirling engine in combined heat and power (CHP) application. Fouling results from using biomass fuels and affects the heat exchanger that transfers heat into the engine. This heat exchanger is referred to as the heater. The heat exchanger that recovers heat from the flue gases is also affected by fouling. To determine the performance of the Stirling engine, a commercial Stirling analysis tool is applied together with models that have been developed for the heat transfer in the heater, regenerator and cooler of the engine. The Stirling engine model uses constant temperatures for the heat addition and rejection, with the theory of displacement engine as a basis. The fouling in the heat exchanger is taken into account by using a fouling factor that corresponds with the degradation in the total heat transfer coefficient. The Stirling engine model together with the model for heat exchanger fouling makes it possible to estimate the effect of fouling on the performance of the Stirling engine. A cost model is developed for the engine to translate changes in performance into economy in CHP operation. In the studied application, the Stirling engine is operated by the heat demand. Together with the selected control method, performance and cost models compose a tool for the simulation and optimization of the system. The use of the models to determine the optimal cleaning interval of the heat exchanger surfaces is considered.     

Experimental investigations of a gamma Stirling engine

The present work deals with the measurement and performance of a gamma Stirling engine of 500 W of mechanical shaft power and 600 rpm of maximal revolutions per minute. Series of measurements concerning the pressure distribution, temperature evolution, and brake power were performed. The study of the different functioning parameters such as initial charge pressure, engine velocity, cooling water flowrate, and temperature gradient (between the sources of heat) has been analyzed. The engine brake power increases with the initial charge pressure, with the cooling water flow, and with the engine revolutions per minute. The working fluid temperature measurements have been recorded in different locations symmetrically along both regenerator sides. The recorded temperature in regenerator side one is about 252 °C and about 174 °C in the opposite side (side two). It shows an asymmetric temperature distribution in the Stirling engine regenerator; consequently, heat transfer inside this porous medium is deteriorated. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Optimal regenerator performance in Stirling engines

The key component of a Stirling engine is its regenerative heat exchanger. This device is subject to losses due to dissipation arising from the flow through the regenerator as well as due to imperfect heat transfer between the regenerator material and the gas. The magnitudes of these losses are characterized by the Stanton number St and the Fanning friction factor f, respectively. Using available data for the ratio St/f, results are found for the Carnot efficiency and the power output of the regenerator. They depend on the conductance and on the ratio of pressures at the two sides of the regenerator. Optimum results for efficiency and power output of the regenerator are derived in the limit of zero Mach number. The results are applied to the Stirling engine. The efficiency and the power output of the engine are found for given amplitude of the compression piston. Optimization with respect to regenerator conductance and piston phase angle leads to a maximum possible value of the power output. Under optimal conditions, the Carnot efficiency just below this maximum is close to 100%. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermodynamic analysis of a Stirling engine including regenerator dead volume

This paper provides a theoretical investigation on the thermodynamic analysis of a Stirling engine with linear and sinusoidal variations of the volume. The regenerator in a Stirling engine is an internal heat exchanger allowing to reach high efficiency. We used an isothermal model to analyse the net work and the heat stored in the regenerator during a complete cycle. We show that the engine efficiency with perfect regeneration doesn’t depend on the regenerator dead volume but this dead volume strongly amplifies the imperfect regeneration effect. An analytical expression to estimate the improvement due to the regenerator has been proposed including the combined effects of dead volume and imperfect regeneration. This could be used at the very preliminary stage of the engine design process.     

Using supercritical heat recovery process in Stirling engines for high thermal efficiency

Stirling engine, using a composite working fluid, such as two-component fluid: gaseous carrier and phase-change component and single multi-phase fluid as the working fluid is studied to get high thermal efficiency. In Stirling engine with a composite fluid, a thermodynamic supercritical heat recovery and heating process is proposed and demonstrated to improve the heat transfer of the heat regenerator and cooler of common gaseous Stirling engine. The criteria for the choice of the working fluids are also formulated.     

空心圆柱蓄热体三维非稳态传热与流动的模拟研究

通过对整砌空心圆柱蓄热室的建模研究,对YC与FZ的温度场与流场进行了对比分析,所建模型具有一定的可信度,其反应温度场及流场诸多现象的可视化结果对实际工程应用有一定借鉴作用。     

Effect of regeneration mode on the performance of liquid desiccant packed bed regenerator

The regenerator is one of the key components in liquid desiccant air-conditioning systems, in which desiccant is concentrated and can be reused in the system. The regeneration heat is supplied into the regenerator by either hot air or hot desiccant. The heat and mass transfer performances of these two regeneration modes are analyzed and compared in detail. In the hot air driven regenerator, the parallel-flow regenerator has the best mass transfer performance and the counter-flow performs poorest under the same conditions, because the heat transfer process is the governing process and the mass transfer performance depends on the promotion of the heat transfer to the mass transfer process. In the hot desiccant driven regenerator, counter-flow configuration has the best mass transfer performance and parallel-flow is the poorest at the same conditions, since mass transfer is the governing process. Regeneration heat should be chosen to heat the desiccant instead of the air in the packed bed regenerator, since the hot desiccant driven regenerator has apparent better mass transfer performance. The proposed regeneration mode and flow pattern will be helpful in the design and optimization of the regenerators.     

Development of a new solar thermal engine system for circulating water for aeration

This paper presents a numerical study about the performance of a Beta Stirling solar thermal engine system. This system is composed of a solar collector box connected to a regenerator hydraulic system and a transmitting power system. The objective of the system is to offer a new alternative to help solving stagnant water pollution in hot countries like Thailand by circulating water in canals, lakes, ponds etc. for aeration using solar energy.The purpose of this study is to determine the power output and actual heat transfer on the performance of the solar thermal engine. The solar thermal engine is analyzed using a mathematical model based on the first law of thermodynamics for processes with finite speed, with particular attention to the energy balance at the receiver. The result of calculations showed that the regenerator volume and phase angle must be chosen carefully to fulfill the requirement that total fluid mass in the system is constant and to obtain maximum power output throughout the day.     

Performances of a CHP Stirling system fuelled with glycerol

The simultaneous productions of mechanical work and low-grade heat by a Stirling engine cogeneration powered by crude glycerol are studied analytically. The study focuses on searching the appropriate values of engine physical parameters to minimize the specific fuel consumption to optimize the work production regardless of the low-grade heat production. The modeling considers the equation of combustion, finite heat transfer between the sources and the working gas, non-perfect regenerator, non-isothermal transformations and non-sinusoidal volume variations during the crankshaft rotation. The optimum operating temperature of the engine hot source and the optimum piston-displacer angular phase shift are determined for alpha, beta and gamma Stirling engines according to the engines swept volume ratio. Results show that the optimum configuration changes considerably with the value of the coefficient of heat transfer. The minimum specific glycerol consumption is 1024 g_gly./kWh and is obtained with alpha type engine. Best performance for beta type is quasi-similar but in this last case, the indicated work production is higher than for alpha engine.     

Coupled heat and mass transfer characteristic in packed bed dehumidifier/regenerator using liquid desiccant

The dehumidifier and regenerator are two key components in liquid desiccant air conditioning systems. The heat transfer driving force and the mass transfer driving force influence each other, the air and desiccant outlet temperatures or humidity ratio may exceed the air and desiccant inlet parameters in the dehumidifier/regenerator. The uncoupled heat and mass transfer driving forces, enthalpy difference and relative humidity difference between the air and desiccant are derived based on the available heat and mass transfer model and validated by the experimental and numerical results. The air outlet parameter reachable region is composed of the air inlet isenthalpic line, the desiccant inlet equivalent relative humidity line and the linkage of the air and desiccant inlet statuses. Except the mass flow rate ratio and the heat and mass transfer coefficients, the air and desiccant inlet statuses and flow pattern have great effects on the dehumidifier/regenerator performance. The counter flow configuration expresses the best mass transfer performance in the dehumidifier and the hot desiccant driven regenerator, while the parallel flow configuration performs best in the hot air driven regenerator.     

Study the Heat Recovery Performance of Micro and Nano Metfoam Regenerators in Alpha Type Stirling Engine Conditions

This paper experimentally investigates the performance of micro and nano metfoam regenerators in alpha-type Stirling engine conditions. The thermal efficiency of this engine depends on performance of regenerator. Therefore, increase the heat recovery of regenerator raises the total efficiency. Accordingly, two types of regenerators from porous media are designed and simulated with different materials. Three-dimensional regenerator CFD simulation shows that randomize porous open cell metfoam made of silver as high conductivity and high heat capacity material is the best structure to fabricate metfoam regenerator. The porosity and matrix element diameter are optimized. The nano coating methodology enhances the activated surface. The regenerators are fabricated using casting polymer mold layer deposition. The nano silver particles are coated on the metfoam by sol-gel coating method. Experimental results show the improvement in regenerator percentage of heat recovery by 3.40% and 5.93% for micro metfoam and nano metfoam, respectively. The maximum improvement is achieved up to 8.65% in case of using the nano metfoam regenerator at 543 K.     

Performance investigation of a novel Franchot engine design

The double‐acting Franchot engine is inferior to the double‐acting Siemens engine under configurations limited by the Siemens engine. In this contribution, the performance of a novel Franchot engine design without the Siemens engine limitations is investigated with a new mathematical definition of the regenerator end temperatures, and the initial statement is challenged. The main advantages of the Franchot engine compared with the Siemens engine are the free control of the phase angle and the thermal separation of the cylinders. Here, the performance of a cylinder‐heated/cooled air‐filled Franchot engine is investigated at medium temperature under variations of engine speed, phase angle, geometry, dead volume, and gas density. A second‐order thermodynamic model with nonconstant, polytropic heat transfer is developed and implemented in Matlab/Simulink for this investigation. The nonconstant heat transfer is crucial to accurately model the behaviour of the direct cylinder heating and cooling. The results show that the phase angle and air charge density have the largest effect on the engine performance. An increase of the phase angle from 90^o to 150^o at a speed of 1000 RPM led to an increased output power of 58 W compared with a maximum power less than 20 W for a phase angle of 90^o. The efficiency at a phase angle of 150^o is approximately 25% which is slightly lower than the ideal Curzon and Ahlborn efficiency of 29.3%. This discrepancy can be explained by the nonconstant, polytropic heat transfer. In addition to the increase in engine power, the operation at higher phase angles reduces the pressure difference across the power piston by a factor larger than 4 which leads to a significant reduction in gas leakage across the power pistons. This shows that at higher phase angles, the 2 main disadvantages compared with the Siemens engine are at least reduced and arguably completely removed. Thus, the Franchot engine has the potential to be superior to the Siemens engine if freed from the operational restrictions of the Siemens engine.     

Thermal-fluid-solid coupling of electric heat storage device based on wind power absorption

电网调峰能力不足，弃风问题严重，已成为我国风力发电规模进一步扩大的瓶颈。通过配置蓄热装置参与风电调峰，改变传统“以热定电”的约束模式，是解决我国大量弃风问题的一个趋势。提高电热蓄能装置效率及优化蓄热装置分布对于实现有效调峰具有重要意义。本文针对固体电蓄热装置内流动、传热、应力等现象，建立了热-流-固多场三维耦合传热数学模型，采用流-固耦合传热模型将难以确定的热流边界转化为系统内部边界，分析固体电蓄热装置温度场及应力场分布，并对比三种不同孔隙率、电热丝排布方式对蓄热装置温度分布均匀性及热膨胀量的影响。研究结果对提高固体电蓄热装置的效率以及电网调峰具有一定的参考价值。     

Unsteady thermal flow analysis in a heat regenerator with spherical particles

Heat regenerator occupied by regenerative materials improves thermal efficiency of regenerative combustion system through the recovery of sensible heat of exhaust gases. By using one-dimensional two-phase fluid dynamics model, the unsteady thermal flow of regenerator with spherical particles, were numerically analysed to evaluate the heat transfer and pressure drop and to suggest the parameter for designing heat regenerator. It takes about 7 h for the steady state in the thermal flow of regenerator, where heat absorption of regenerative particle is concurrent with heat desorption. The regenerative particle experiences small temperature fluctuation below 10 K during the reversing process. The thermal flow in heat regenerator varies with inlet velocity of exhaust gas and air, configuration of regenerator and diameter of regenerative particle. As the gas velocity increases with decreasing the cross-sectional area of the regenerator, the heat transfer between gas and particle enhances and pressure losses increase. As particle diameter decreases, the air is preheated higher and the exhaust gases are cooled lower with the increase of pressure losses. At the same exhaust gases temperature at the regenerator outlet, the regenerator length need to be linearly increased with inlet Reynolds number of exhaust gases. It is confirmed that inlet Reynolds number of exhaust gases should be introduced as a regenerator design parameter. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Performance of a beta-configuration heat engine having a regenerative displacer

This paper investigates the performance of a beta-configuration heat engine having a regenerative displacer. In the conventional beta-engine; the displacer and the power piston are incorporated in one cylinder. The displacer transfers the working fluid between expansion and compression spaces via the heater, the regenerator, and the cooler. In the present work, successive homogeneous layers of square wire meshes occupy the displacer space of a beta-engine that make the displacer to be a displacer and a regenerator simultaneously. The theoretical analysis of the engine is based mainly on Schmidt theory. The optimum dimensions of the heater, cooler, regenerator, piston stroke and displacer stroke as dimensionless ratios of the bore were found. The optimum phase angle between the piston and the displacer and the optimum ranges of the speed for each working gas were also found. In a comparison between the proposed engine which has a regenerative displacer and the GPU-3 engine which has a stationary regenerator and a solid displacer; it was found that; the proposed one delivers 20% more power with 10% more efficiency than the GPU-3 engine.     

A thermoacoustic engine capable of utilizing multi-temperature heat sources

Low-grade energy is widespread. However, it cannot be utilized with high thermal efficiency directly. Following the principle of thermal energy cascade utilization, a thermoacoustic engine (TE) with a new regenerator that can be driven by multiple heat sources at different temperature levels is proposed. Taking a regenerator that utilizes heat sources at two temperatures as an example, theoretical research has been conducted on a traveling-wave TE with the new regenerator to predict its performance. Experimental verification is also done to demonstrate the benefits of the new regenerator. Results indicate that a TE with the new regenerator utilizing additional heat at a lower temperature experiences an increase in pressure ratio, acoustic power, efficiency, and exergy efficiency with proper heat input at an appropriate temperature at the mid-heater. A regenerator that uses multi-temperature heat sources can provide a means of recovering lower grade heat.     

斯特林发动机瞬态模型及特性分析

为获得斯特林发动机的动态特性和优化方案,将损失机制和压力梯度耦合进控制方程中,提出一维瞬态斯特林循环分析模型及分析方法,并针对GPU-3斯特林发动机进行模型验证和特性分析.模型的指示功率相对误差平均值约为4.8％,热效率的相对误差小于1％.当氦气工质在热源温度为977 K、平均压强为2.76 MPa时,输出功率随转速的...