Free Piston Stirling Engines

DEFINITION AND NOMENCLATURE A Stirling engine is a mechanical device which operates on a closed regenerative thermodynamic cycle with cyclic compression and expansion of the working fluid at different temperature levels. The flow of working fluid is controlled only by the internal volume changes, there are no valves and, overall, there is a net conversion of heat to work or vice-versa. This generalized definition embraces a large family of machines with different functions; characteristics and configurations. It includes both rotary and reciprocating systems utilizing mechanisms of varying complexity. It covers machines capable of operating as a prime mover or power system converting heat supplied at high tempera ture to output work and waste heat at a lower temperature. It also covers work-consuming machines used as refrigerating systems and heat pumps abstracting heat from a low temperature source and delivering this plus the heat equivalent of the work consumed to a higher tem perature. Finally it covers work-consuming devices used as pressure generators compressing a fluid from a low pressure to a higher pres sure. Very similar machines exist which operate on an open regen erative cycle where the flow of working fluid is controlled by valves. For convenience these may be called Ericsson engines but unfortunate ly the distinction is not widely established and regenerative machines of both types are frequently called 'Stirling engines'.

Contenu
List of Contents.- 1 Introduction.- Definition and Nomenclature.- History.- Practical Stirling Engines.- Mechanical Arrangements.- Reciprocator Drives: Kinematic or Free-Piston.- Advantages of Free-Piston Stirling Engines..- Disadvantages of Free-Piston Stirling Engines.- Closure.- References.- 2 Free-Piston Stirling Engines.- I: Elementary Aspects.- II; Dynamics of Free-Piston Stirling Engines.- III; Some Practical Considerations.- 3 Theoretical Analysis and Design.- Elementary Design Tools.- First Order Analysis Methods.- Second Order Analysis.- Third Order Analysis.- Analytic Design of Free-Piston Engines.- Nomenclature.- References.- 4 The Sunpower Engines.- Chronology.- Sunpower Advice to the Designer of Free-Piston Stirling Engines.- Free-Piston Engines and Rotary Motion.- Guidelines for Free-Piston Stirling Engine Application.- References.- 5 Hybrid or Ringbom-Stirling Engines.- Overdriven Mode Operation.- First Order Analysis.- Some Practical Considerations.- Practical Ringbom-Stirling Engines.- Nomenclature.- References.- 6 Diaphragm Stirling Engines: The Harwell Thermo-Mechanical Generator.- Diaphragms.- Displacer Design.- The Alternator.- System Dynamics.- Losses.- Increasing the Generator Power.- Operating Experience.- Conclusions.- Nomenclature.- References.- 7 Small Free-Piston Stirling Engine: Power Systems fofr the Artificial Heart.- The Artificial Heart.- Stirling Engines in Artificial Hearts.- The Aerojet General Engine.- The JCGS Engine.- Comparison of the JCGS and Aerojet General Engines.- Thermo-Electron Free-Piston Stirling Steam Engine.- Conclusion.- References.- 8 Large Free-Piston Stirling Engines.- Feasibility of Large Stirling Engines.- Applications of Large Stirling Engines.- Conclusion.- References.- 9 Free-Piston Stirling Cryocoolers.- Free-Piston Stirling Cryocooler.- Integral Free-Piston Stirling Cryocooler.- Split-Stirling Cryocooler.- Large Stirling Cryocooler.- Liquid-Piston Stirling Cryocooler.- Conclusion.- References.- 10 Liquid Piston Stirling Engines.- Basic Principles.- Tuning of Liquid Columns.- Feedback Systems.- Pumping Configurations.- Wet and Dry Machines.- Flow Effects.- Transient Heat Transfer Loss.- Results.- Engines for Beginners.- Future Development.- Nomenclature.- References.- Name Index.