Optimal Allocation of Heat Exchanger Inventory Associated with Fixed Power Output or Fixed Heat Transfer Rate Input

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine the optimal distribution of the heat transfer surface area or conductance among the Stirling engine heat exchangers when the minimum of the total heat transfer surface area of the heat exchangers is sought. The optimization procedure must fulfill one of the following constraints: (1) fixed power output of the engine, (2) fixed heat transfer rate available at the source, or (3) fixed power output and heat transfer rate at the source. Internal and external irreversibilities of the Stirling engine are considered. An analytic approach, when heat transfer occurs at small temperature differences at the heat reservoirs, provides several restrictions with regard to variables of the model. A sensitivity analysis of the minimum of the total heat transfer surface area of the heat exchangers with respect to these variables and parameters is presented. The results show optimal temperatures of the working fluid and optimum allocation of heat exchanger inventory.

Keywords

• stirling engine, optimization, heat exchangers, regenerator