Thermodynamic peculiarities of alpha-type Stirling engines for low-temperature difference power generation: Optimisation of operating parameters and heat exchangers using a third-order model

Abstract

Low-temperature heat sources such as waste heat and geothermal energy in the range from 100 ℃ to 200 ℃ are widely available and their potential is largely untapped. Stirling engines are one possibility to convert this heat to a usable power output. Much work has been done to optimise Stirling engines for high-temperature heat sources such as external combustion or concentrated solar energy but only little is known about suitable engine layouts at lower temperature differences. With the reduced temperature difference, changes become necessary not only in the heat exchangers and the regenerator but also in the operating parameters such as frequency and phase angle. This paper shows results obtained from a third-order simulation model that help to identify beneficial parameter combinations, and explains the differences of low and high-temperature engines.