Analytical Method for Stirling Engines and Coolers.

Abstract

For aiding the design and improving the performance of various Stirling engines and coolers, a Stirling engine thermodynamic and mechanical analysis, SETMA, has been developed and examined. A simple SETMA, whose working space is divided into five control volumes, has been developed to enable easy, accurate prediction of the performance of Stirling machines. In this paper, the SETMA and fundamental equations are given in detail. Several examinations of the applicability of SETMA are discussed, comparing the calculated and experimental results of two types of actual engines. The calculation accuracy can be markedly improved by optimizing the friction-loss factors and heat transfer coefficients and carefully scanning of the dimensions of the working space. For calculations of the thermodynamic properties used by SETMA, it was clarified that the SRK equation of state is more reliable than the ideal-gas equation when analyzing higher-pressure-charged Stirling machines.