Power output and efficiency of Stirling engines using different working gases

Abstract

The theoretical investigation includes the design of a simulation program in EES, Matlab or similar of the Stirling engine. Initially an isothermal model is made(constant temperatures in cylinder volumes. hot and cold heat exchanger and regenerator). After that a new model is made, which differs from the former by having adiabatic cylinder volumes. When the basic model is working properly, heat transfer and flow losses in the heat exchangers are included.For the experimental investigation, an existing 9 kW Stirling engine in the laboratory is used. Data acquisition and measuring equipment on the engine is part of the project. Experiments are made using different workin gases in the engine (Helium, Nitrogen, Hydrogen, Carbon Dioxide, ...) Part of the project is intallation of suitable data acquisition and making the engine control system work properly. Finally results from calculations are compared with results from measurements in the laboratory.