Stirling Engine-Cycle and Types

The

Stirling engine is an external combustion engine, which is a heat engine where an (internal) working fluid is heated by combustion in an external source, through the engine wall or a heat exchanger. The fluid then, by expanding and acting on the mechanism of the engine, produces motion and usable work

A Stirling engine is a heat engine operating by cyclic compression and

expansion of air or other gases, as the working fluid ,at a different temperature levels such that there is a net conversion of heat energy to mechanical work.

Basic Assumption

The working fluid used in the cycle of the engine is an ideal gas , and hence its obey the ideal gas equation :

PV=nRT Usually, air ,helium ,or hydrogen used as a working fluids.

The Thermodynamic Cycle of the Stirling Engine

The Idealized Stirling Cycle Consists of Four Thermodynamic Process Acting on The Working Fluid :

1.

2.

3.

4.

Isothermal Expansion : The expansion-space and associated heat exchanger are maintained at a constant high temperature, and the gas undergoes near-isothermal expansion absorbing heat from the hot source. Constant-Volume (known as isochoric) heat-removal : The gas is passed through the regenerator, where it cools transferring heat to the regenerator for use in the next cycle. Isothermal Compression : The compression space and associated heat exchanger are maintained at a constant low temperature so the gas undergoes near-isothermal compression rejecting heat to the cold sink Constant-Volume (known as isochoric ) heat-addition : The gas passes back through the regenerator where it recovers much of the heat transferred in 2, heating up on its way to the expansion space

Notes on the Cycle

The regenerator is an internal heat exchanger and temporary heat - store placed between the hot and cold spaces such that the working fluid passes through it first in one direction then the other. Its function is to retain within the system that heat which would otherwise be exchanged with the environment at temperatures intermediate to the maximum and minimum cycle temperatures .

The process 2-3 (isochoric heat-removal) through the regenerator , make the temperatures and pressure to decrease as the flow pass through the regenerator ( P and T are directly proportional to each other ,the gas is ideal ) .

Stirling Engine Types

Most common types are :

Alpha Type :

There are two cylinders. The expansion cylinder (red) is maintained at a high temperature while the compression cylinder (blue) is cooled. The passage between the two cylinders contains the regenerator.

Alpha Type Stirling Mechanism

Expansion Most of the gas in the system has just been driven into the hot cylinder. The gas heats and expands driving both pistons inward.

Transfer Most of the gas (about 2/3) is still located in the hot cylinder. Flywheel momentum carries the crankshaft the next 90 degrees, transferring the bulk of the gas to the cool cylinder

Contraction The majority of the expanded gas has shifted to the cool cylinder. It cools and contracts, drawing both pistons outward.

Transfer The contracted gas is still located in the cool cylinder. Flywheel momentum carries the crank another 90 degrees, transferring the gas to back to the hot cylinder to complete the cycle.

REGENERATOR
This engine also features a regenerator ,illustrated by the chamber containing the green hatch lines. The regenerator is constructed of material that readily conducts heat and has a high surface area, typically a mesh of closely spaced, thin metal plates. When hot gas is transferred to the cool cylinder, it is first driven through the regenerator, where a portion of the heat is deposited. When the cool gas is transferred back, this heat is reclaimed; thus the regenerator pre heats and pre cools the working gas, dramatically improving efficiency.

Alpha type Stirling. Animated version.

- Beta Type :
There is only one cylinder, hot at one end and cold at the other. A loose fitting displacer shunts the air between the hot and cold ends of the cylinder. A power piston at the end of the cylinder drives the flywheel.

- Gamma Type
The Gamma Stirling engine is very similar to the Beta Stirling engine except that the displacer now has a separate cylinder which is directly connected to the power These pistons are still .piston connected to the same flywheel .

- Low Temperature Difference Type (LTD) :

The displacer cylinder is quite short for its diameter, and encloses a matching short-stroke displacer. The power piston runs in a separate, much smaller cylinder, typically mounted on the top plate. The displacer cylinder wall is usually made of plastic, which thermally separates the metal plates at the hot and cold ends .

In the case of the low-temperature difference (LTD) stirling engine, temperature difference between your hand and the surrounding air can be enough to run the engine.

As with all Stirling engines, the cycle has four phases :

Expansion We start with the majority of the gas in contact with the warmer plate. The gas heats and expands, driving the power piston upward.

Transfer Flywheel momentum carries the displacer downward, transferring the warm gas to the upper, cool end of the cylinder.

Contraction Now the majority of the gas is in contact with the cool plate. The gas cools and contracts, drawing the power piston downward.

Transfer Flywheel momentum carries the displacer up, transferring the cooled gas back to the lower, hot end of the .cylinder