Thermodynamic Study of a Low Temperature Difference Stirling Engine at Steady State Operation

Abstract

In the current energy economy context, the use of renewable energies and the valuation of lost energies are the subject of many studies. From this point of view, the Stirling engine draws attention of the researchers for its many advantages. This paper presents a thermodynamic analysis of a low temperature Stirling engine at steady state operation; energy, entropy and exergy balances being presented at each main element of the engine. A zero dimensional numerical model describing the variables evolution (pressure, volumes, masses, exchanged energies, irreversibilities...) as function of the crankshaft angle is also presented. The calculated irreversibilities are due to imperfect regeneration and temperature differences between gas and wall in the hot and cold exchangers. A favourable comparison was made with experimental results obtained on an small size engine.

Keywords

• stirling engine, numerical model, thermodynamic analysis, imperfect regeneration