This paper is devoted to study the effects of pressure drop in heat exchangers on the dynamics of a free piston Stirling engine. First, the dynamic equations governing the pistons as well as the gas pressure equations for hot and cold spaces of the engine are extracted. Then, by substituting the obtained pressure equations into the dynamic relationships the final nonlinear dynamic equations gov...

This paper uses lumped parameter dynamic equations to model the mass flow, piston dynamics, and control volume behavior inside a free-piston Stirling engine. A new model for a Stirling engine thermal regenerator that incorporates a dynamically changing temperature gradient is presented. The use of graphite as a regenerator matrix material is justified despite its limited background by comparing...

This paper describes a new approach to modeling and designing free-piston Stirling engines with the goal of building a working prototype. The Stirling cycle is recast as a dynamic system where control design tools and techniques can be applied to determine optimal manufacturable parameters for the engine. A simplified state-space analysis exhibits the merits of this perspective by revealing a l...

Due to their high relative cost, solar-electric energy systems have yet to be exploited on a widespread basis. It is believed in the energy community that a technology similar to photovoltaics, but offered at about $1/W, would lead to widespread deployment at residential and commercial sites. This paper addresses the feasibility study of a low-cost solar-thermal electricity generation technolog...

Recent progress on a Stirling engine driven hea t pump is described and a modeling technique for predicting engine dynamics is developed. The system described represents a very p romising configuration of engine driven heat pump, because o f the long life characteristics of the free-piston Stirling engin e and the hermetic nature of both the engine and refrigerant work ing fluids. Recent change...

The Stirling cycle and related terminology is defined. Selected contemporary research involving the cycle in environmentally friendly applications is cited. Three conventional engine configurations that utilize a reciprocating power piston and crank shaft (the Alpha, Beta, and Gamma) are characterized, in terms of minimum number of components, advantages, and disadvantages. A new type of Stirli...