Molecular dynamics study of a nano-scale β-type Stirling engine

Abstract

A Stirling engine is based on a thermodynamic cycle; a temperature difference causes flywheel rotation. Because the arbitrary (stochastic) heat resources contact some of the systems that generate the work (i.e., the energy), Stirling engines remain important in the present era of Sustainable Development Goals because of their broad applicability. This study focuses on a nano-scale “β-type” Stirling engine, specifically concerning a model for numerical simulation. We perform molecular dynamics simulation of the two-dimensional model (using hundreds of particles) and calculate the thermal efficiency. We figured out the minimal necessary conditions for stable rotation, as well as the lower limits of particle numbers and temperature differences for autonomous thermodynamic cycles.