Thermodynamics Performance Analysis of Solar Stirling Engines

This paper provides numerical simulation and thermodynamic analysis of SOLO 161 Solar Stirling engine. Some imperfect working conditions, pistons' dead volumes, and work losses are considered in the simulation process. Considering an imperfect regeneration, an isothermal model is developed to calculate heat transfer. Hot and cold pistons dead volumes are accounted in the work diagram calculations. Regenerator effectiveness, heater and cooler temperatures, working gas, phase difference, average engine pressure, and dead volumes are considered as effective parameters. By variations in the effective parameters, Stirling engine performance is estimated. Results of this study indicate that the increase in the heater and cooler temperature difference and the decrease in the dead volumes will lead to an increase in thermal efficiency. Moreover, net work has its maximum value when the angle between two pistons shaft equal to 90 degrees while efficiency is maximum in 110 degrees.