1

Schmidt Analysis of Solar Stirling Power Systems

David Willy
MS Mechanical Engineering
EGR 501 Topics in Sustainable Systems
Project Advisor: Dr. Okey Onyejekwe
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Presentation Outline
Introduction to Solar Concentration
Stirling Engine Types
Scientific Principles
Optics
Thermodynamics
Schmidt Results using Matlab
Analytical vs. Numerical
Future Steps to Take if this was a Thesis
3
Introduction to Solar Concentration
Parabolic Trough Designs
2-dimensional Parabola
Single Axis Tracking
Typically Rankine Cycle
Possibility of Stirling
Cycle use
4
Introduction to Solar Concentration
Fresnel Lens Designs
Fresnel vs. Standard Convex Lens
Currently used in Photovoltaics
Double Axis Tracking
Material Costs tradeoff?
(Silicon $$ vs. Aluminum $$)
5
Introduction to Solar Concentration
Power Tower Designs
Array of Heliostats
Double Axis Tracking
6
Introduction to Solar Concentration
Parabolic Bowl (Dish) Collector
3-dimensional Parabola
Array of Reflectors
Double Axis Tracking
Stirling Cycle
Air cooled
(No Water Required)
Air Lubricated
(No Oil Required)
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Stirling Engine Types
Alpha, Beta, & Gamma
Stirling Engines are External Combustion engines
that can run on any fuel (heat source).
Alpha Type Configuration Dual Piston Type




Example Engine
STM 4-120 engine
by Stirling Thermal Motors



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Stirling Engine Types
Alpha, Beta, & Gamma
Beta Type Configuration Piston/Displacer






http://www.keveney.com/Stirling.html
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Stirling Engine Types
Alpha, Beta, & Gamma
Gamma Type Engine Piston/Displacer in different
cylinders. MM-7
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Scientific Principles - Optics
Equation of Parabola

Rim Angle

Local Mirror Radius
fx y 4
2

)
2
( sin
2
r
r
r
a

cos 1
2 f
r
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Scientific Principles - Optics
Perfect Parabola
Diameter of Receiver


Imperfect Parabola
Diameter of Receiver (w/ dispersion angle
due to slope error)


r
r
a
r D

sin
) 267 . 0 sin(
267 . 0 sin 2
r
r
a
r D

sin
) 2 / 267 . 0 sin(
) 2 / 267 . 0 sin( 2
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Scientific Principles - Optics
Perfect Concentration Ratios



Imperfect Concentration Ratios Trough Slope error
Trough w/ Cylindrical Receiver


Bowl w/ Flat Receiver

6 . 214
) 267 . 0 sin(
1
max_

trough
C
6 . 46049
) 267 . 0 ( sin
1
2
max_

bowl
C
?? 1
) 2 / 267 . 0 sin(
) 2 / 267 . 0 cos( sin
max_

r r
trough
C
?? 1
) 2 / 267 . 0 ( sin 4
) 2 / 267 . 0 ( cos sin
2
2 2
max_

r r
bowl
C
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Scientific Principles - Thermodynamics
1-2: Heat is transferred to the working fluid
(isothermal Expansion).
2-3: Forces the fluid into the cold cylinder.
3-4: The right piston compressing the fluid
(Isothermal Compression).
4-1: Forces the fluid back into the left cylinder.




**Regeneration:
The heat stored
in process 2-3 is
ideally picked
back up by
process 4-1.
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Scientific Principles - Thermodynamics
Ideal Case with Dead Volume




Schmidt Analysis: Ideal Case with
Dead Volume and Sinusoidal
Motion
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Schmidt Results using Matlab
The Schmidt Cycle was named from Gustav Schmidt (1871)who
first published the solution. It is defines as a Stirling Cycle in
which Sinusoidal motion of the pistons. It is the most
complicated case of a Stirling Engine that can be solved
analytically. All other cases have had to be solved numerically.
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Schmidt Results using Matlab
In order to get Power per Engine Cycle, a
Schmidt analysis has to be performed.
Before this happens, the following
assumptions have to be made:
Sinusoidal motion of all parts.
Known and constant gas temperatures in all parts
of the engine.
No gas leakage.
Working fluid obeys perfect gas law.
At each instant in the cycle, the gas pressure is
the same throughout the working gas.
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Schmidt Results using Matlab
Dual Piston (Alpha type engine)
r
d
c h
T
R
T
n C
T
n H
R M
n P

) ( ) (
) (
d
R n C n H n V ) ( ) ( ) (
d
l
H F
V
n H )] cos( 1 [
2
) (
d l
k
C A F
V
n C )] sin( 1 [
2
) (

PdV Work
50 60 70 80 90 100 110
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
Volume (cm
3
)
p
r
e
s
s
u
r
e

(
M
P
a
)
PV Curve Evaluated at 30 degree Increments


Work=641.2497 Joules
PV
Unit of Energy:
Joule=Watt*Second
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Schmidt Results using Matlab
Nomenclature
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Schmidt Results using Matlab
Plots of 30 and 1 degree Increments. As Degree Increments
approaches zero, the true work per cycle can be found.
50 60 70 80 90 100 110
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
Volume (cm
3
)
p
r
e
s
s
u
r
e

(
M
P
a
)
PV Curve Evaluated at 1 degree Increments


Work=671.4811 Joules per Cycle
PV
50 60 70 80 90 100 110
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
Volume (cm
3
)
p
r
e
s
s
u
r
e

(
M
P
a
)
PV Curve Evaluated at 30 degree Increments


Work=641.2497 Joules per Cycle
PV
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Schmidt Results using Matlab
Plots of pressure and volume at 0.25 degree Increments.
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
-20
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
crank angle(degrees)
v
o
l
u
m
e

(
c
m
3
)
Hot, Cold, & Total Gas Volumes


Hot Volume
Cold Volume
Total Volume
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
0
20
40
60
80
crank angle(degrees)
p
r
e
s
s
u
r
e

(
M
P
a
)
Total Pressure


Pressure
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Analytical vs. Numerical
Some Special Case Numerical Work Equations
Mort Mayer Work Equation


J. R. Senft Work Equation



Cooke-Yarborough Work Equation
Walker Work Equation
Finkelstein Work Equation
k p
V V
k p
V V
2
) (
c h
r
T T
T

) log(
) (
c
h
c h
r
T
T
T T
T

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Analytical vs. Numerical
Numerical: Mort Mayer Work Equation=329.2018 J
75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
Volume (cm
3
)
p
r
e
s
s
u
r
e

(
M
P
a
)
PV Curve Evaluated at 0.25 degree Increments


Work=329.1995 Joules per Cycle
PV
Degree
Interval Work (J)
Percent
Error
30 314.3633 -4.507%
20 322.5558 -2.019%
10 327.5317 -0.507%
5 328.7828 -0.127%
1 329.1838 -0.005%
0.5 329.1963 -0.002%
0.25 329.1995 -0.0007%
0.1 329.2003 -0.0005%
Analytical: Schmidt
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Future Steps to Take if this was a Thesis
Perform the Finkelstein Adiabatic (no heat
transferred in fluid) Analysis of Stirling
Engines. Similar to the Otto cycle gasoline
engine. The next closest analysis to reality in
Stirling Engines.
Combine Optics into full analysis with some
physical imperfections.
Include Alternator and transmission
efficiencies.
Include 2-axis tracking errors.
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Questions??
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Citation
Twidell, John; Weir, Tony. Renewable Energy Resources (2nd Ed.). New York, NY: Taylor and Francis. 2007.

Martini, William R. Stirling Engine Design Manual (2nd ed.). NASA. US Department of Energy. 1983.

Engel, Thomas; Reid, Philip. Thermodynamics, Statistical Thermodynamics, and Kinetics. San Francisco, CA: Pearson Education Inc.
2006.

Duffie, John; Williams Beckman. Solar Engineering of Thermal Processes (Third Edition ed.). New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2006.

United States Department of Energy (DOE). http://www.nrel.gov/solar/parabolic_ trough.html. Sept 19, 2008.

Stirling Energy Systems (SES). http://www.stirlingenergy.com/. Oct 22, 2008.
http://www.stirlingenergy.com/technology/suncatcher.asp

Solar Paces. Spain SP10. http://www.solarpaces.org/Tasks/Task1/PS10.HTM. Oct 20, 2008.

Wormser, Paul. Concentrated Photovoltaics (CPV). http://solar.nau.edu. Jan 11, 2008.
http://solar.nau.edu/csp/docs/presentations/Paul%20Wormser.pdf. Oct 27, 2008.

Urieli, Izzy. Stirling Cycle Machine Analysis. http://www.ent.ohiou.edu. 2007. http://www.ent.ohiou.edu/~urieli/stirling/me422.html.
Nov 6, 2008.

engal, Yunus A.; Boles, Michael A. Thermodynamics: An Engineering Approach (Fourth Ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Companies
Inc. 2002.