Open AccessTheoretical Stirling Engine to be The Way of The Future
Author(s) -
Hayden Ferral-Smith,
Georgia Giannakakis,
J. V. D. Wilson,
Joshua P. Taylor
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
pam review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2205-5231
DOI - 10.5130/pamr.v4i0.1438
Subject(s) - stirling engine , heat engine , external combustion engine , volume (thermodynamics) , power (physics) , stirling cycle , mechanical engineering , working fluid , viscosity , mechanics , computer science , automotive engineering , thermodynamics , engineering , physics , chemistry , combustion chamber , organic chemistry , combustion
This meta-study examines the factors which contribute to Stirling engine efficiency. Working fluids should have high specific heat capacity, low viscosity and low density making noble gases the most suitable. Each different working fluid has its own optimum power output at varying pressures and temperatures. The best being Helium at 4.14 MPa and 922K. Dead volume also affects the power output of Stirling engines. Theoretical engines with zero dead volume are ideal but dead volume can occupy over 50% of the engine. Engine configuration also impacts on the efficiency of a Stirling engine. The layout of pistons and cylinders about each other can also have drastic effects on these efficiencies. Currently the most effective engine layout is the ‘gamma’ configuration, which measures 30%-32% efficient.