Numerical simulation and analysis of Stirling engines for cold energy and waste heat recoveries

• Main Author: Xie, Linji
• Other Authors: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2016
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/67732
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Stirling engine is a very special heat engine that has a promising future in automotive industries. Stirling engine is noted for its high thermal efficiency, low-noise working condition and unlimited utility of any kind of heat source. Compared with popular used modern internal combustion engine, Stirling engine has extraordinary features and functions. The application range from mechanical propulsion plant to cooling and heating electrical generation system, such as automotive engine, aircraft engine, marine engine, solar power regeneration plant, etc. Therefore, analysing the working characteristics and predicting the performance of the Stirling engines are important for future designs. This project aims to introduce several types and configurations of Stirling engine, simulate and analyse Stirling engine’s performance from an ideal case to a case that is close to the practical engine operation. The analysis approaches include Schmidt analysis, Isothermal analysis, Ideal Adiabatic analysis, Simple analysis and Simple analysis combined with different losses. The progress was starting from theoretical analysis to practical analysis by using MatLab program code. And the numerical model was improved step by step by considering many practical losses. The developed model was then validated on an experimental Stirling engine based on references. As the result, the best developed model in comparison with original Simple model had effectively improved the error from 32.4% to 16.9%. Furthermore, parametric analysis of the Stirling engine model, such as cyclic temperature variations and heat transferred to each unit, was conducted numerically with the developed Stirling engine model. Performance of this engine was also predicted by using Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as cold source based on the developed model.