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Expansion
Space
Displacer
Regenerator
Cooler
ENGINE
STIRLING HEAT
Heater
Compression
Space
Displacer
Rod
Compression
Space
Displacer
Rod
Warm Heat
Exchanger
Displacer
Regenerator
Chiller
PUMP
STIRLING HEAT
Power Piston
Expansion
Space
processes of heating and cooling are appreciably augmented by the regenerator which
generally consists of a matrix of fine wires or simply annular gaps made by winding foil on
itself. The regenerator serves to store heat as the gas leaves the warm/hot section and to
transfer this heat back to the gas as the gas returns from the cold section. Sensible heat is
mainly transferred internally by the regenerator and the compression and expansion processes
are therefore able to approach isothermal operation which allows high efficiencies to be
obtained.
Figure 2 Duplex demonstrator machine with recuperative combustor, note ice formation on
cold end.
The free-piston configuration of the Stirling cycle is a novel arrangement in which the
moving parts are driven by the gas pressure forces within the machine rather than the more
conventional crank mechanisms. In order to achieve the proper motions, a differential area
must be provided across the displacer. Figure 1 shows one method of achieving this by the
use of a displacer rod. The operation of a free-piston engine may be understood by
describing the pressure forces as the cycle goes through its motions. Beginning at the
compression stage, as the piston moves up it increases the pressure in the engine side and
decreases the pressure in the heat pump side. This creates a force on the displacer because of
the presence of the rod which pushes the displacer towards the compression space thus
effecting the constant volume displacement of the gas to the hot side.
Compression
Space
Compression
Space
Expansion
Space
1
Regenerator
Compression
Expansion
Space
Displacer
Regenerator
Displacement
Expansion
Displacement
(a)
Alpha configuration
(b)
Beta configuration
Combustor
Heat rejection fins
Exhaust
Gas
supply
Engine efficiency
COP
2.50
35.0
2.25
30.0
2.00
25.0
1.75
20.0
1.50
15.0
1.25
10.0
1.00
5.0
0.75
3
4
5
6
7
Piston amplitude [mm]
0.0
1000
Lift [W]
Total input energy [W]
Total heat rejection [W]
800
600
400
200
0
Figure 6 Lift, total input and total rejected heat versus piston amplitude. Electrical output
not shown.
363.0
100.0
Heat Engine
Linear Alternator
Figure 7 Configuration and overall size of Duplex Stirling (combustor not shown)
Life and reliability are stringent requirements for this type of application. It is assumed that
the non-contact gas bearings would avoid wear and the use of lower hot end temperatures for
the engine will reduce creep to acceptable levels. Failure modes associated with the
combustor are less well known at this point but the reliability of high efficiency domestic
heating systems would tend to suggest that this need not be a problem. Since the fuel is
combusted in a low pressure shrouded external combustor and the mechanical unit operates
with very low levels of noise, the overall noise levels on the demonstrator units have been
qualitatively similar to or less than a typical refrigerator unit.
It should be pointed out that the engine simulated in this work was purposely chosen at an
intermediate technology level. The overall size and mass is not much different to a vapor
compression system, and there do not appear to be any significant cost issues. A production
cost analysis has not been done, but an in-house preliminary costing on a similar technology
(an electrically driven free-piston Stirling refrigerator cooler) would suggest that production
costs for the Duplex could be comparable to vapor compression systems. Free-piston Stirling
engines and heat pumps are capable of higher efficiencies, exceeding 40% for the engine and
50% Carnot for the heat pump. Manufacturing costs, however, are likely to increase with
higher efficiencies.
Tecumseh AE 1390
Duplex Stirling
2.5
2
1.5
/Hour
1
0.5
0
New
England
Middle
Atlantic
East
North
Central
West
North
Central
South
Atlantic
East
South
Central
REFERENCES
1
Fabien M.J. and Berchowitz D.M. "Stirling Refrigeration Cycle Development Phase I:
Scoping Study and Feasibility Analysis of the Free-Piston Stirling Cooler", ORNL/CON
- In Process of Being Published - Number To Be Determined, 1991.
2. Beale W.T. "Free Piston Stirling Engines - Some Model Tests and Simulations", SAE
Cong, Detroit, MI, Jan 13-17, 1969. Also SAE paper 690230.
3. Penswick B. and Urieli I. "Duplex Stirling Machines", Proc 19th IECEC, San
Francisco, 1984.
4. Redlich R.W. and Berchowitz D.M. "Linear Dynamics of Free-Piston Stirling Engines",
Proc Instn Mech Engrs, Vol 199, No A3, March 1985, pp 203-213.
5. Godin M. tude d'un Moteur Stirling Pistons Libres en vue de son Application
l'nergie Solaire, Doctor of Engineering Thesis, l'Universite Paris-Val-De-Marne,
Paris
12, France, Oct 1978.
6. Berchowitz D.M. Stirling Cycle Engine Design and Optimisation, PhD Thesis,
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, August 1986.
7. Berchowitz D.M. and Unger R. "Experimental Performance of a Free-Piston Stirling
Cycle Cooler for Non-CFC Domestic Refrigeration Applications", XVIII th International
Congress of Refrigeration Inc., Montral, Canada, August 1991.
8. Energy Information Administration/Office of Coal, Nuclear, Electric and Alternate Fuels;
Typical Electric Bills Based on January 1, 1988 Rates; DOE/EIA-0040(88), U.S.
Department of Energy, Washington, D.C., 1988.
9. Energy Information Administration/Office of Oil and Gas; Natural Gas Annual 1989;
DOE/EIA-0131(89), U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, D.C., 1990.
10.Sand J.R. Unpublished data, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee, 1991.
_______________________
ESTIMATION DU CALIBRAGE ET DE LA PERFORMANCE D'UN STIRLING
DUPLEX ALIMENTE AU GAZ NATUREL POUR DES APPLICATIONS
DOMESTIQUES DE RFRIGERATION
RSUM: Des calculations talonnes sont utilises afin d'optimaliser et de calibrer une
unit Stirling intgre rfrigeration/moteur (appelle configuration Duplex) pour des
applications domestiques de prservation des denres alimentaires. Le gaz naturel est la
source d'nergie pour ce moteur. Les questions concernant la durabilit, le bruit et la
performance sont adresses en rfrence au matriel existant. Par exemple, les niveaux de
bruit sont extremement bas vu que le gaz entre en combustion externellement dans un brleur
blind; de plus le taux des vibration sont plus bas que chez les compresseurs de rfrigrateurs
traditionnels. La chaleur des gaz d'chappement est rcupere; elle est donc basse
temprature lorsqu'elle sort de l'appareil. Une comparaison des cots de fonctionement est
effectue entre des rfrigrateurs lectriques traditionnels et le procd Stirling Duplex au gaz
naturel. Une production d'nergie lectrique est aussi possible en introduisant un petit
alternateur linaire. Celui-ci peut alimenter la lumire interne et d'autres accessoires. Des
modles dmonstration ont t construits et mis l'essai.