CHAPTER NO 1

INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION

1
 The principle that makes Stirling engines possible is quite simple. When air is heated it
expands, and when it is cooled it contracts. Stirling engines work by cyclically heating and
cooling air (or perhaps another gas such as helium) inside a leak tight container and using the
pressure changes to drive a piston. The heating and cooling process works like this: One part of
the engine is kept hot while another part is kept cold. A mechanism then moves the air back and
forth between the hot side and the cold side. When the air is moved to the hot side, it expands
and pushes up on the piston, and when the air is moved back to the cold side, it contracts and
pulls down on the piston. While Stirling engines are conceptually quite simple, understanding
how any particular engine design works is often quite difficult because there are hundreds of
different mechanical configurations that can achieve the Stirling cycle.

It is worthwhile to compare Stirling engines to other more familiar engines and note
their similarities as well as their differences. Stirling engines are a type of heat engine. They turn
heat into mechanical work and in this sense they perform the same function as other well known
heat engines such as gasoline, diesel, and steam engines. Like steam engines, Stirling engines are
external combustion engines, since the heat is supplied to the engine from a source outside the
cylinder instead of being supplied by a fuel burning inside the cylinder.

Because the heat in a Stirling engine comes from outside of the engine, Stirling
engines can be designed that will run on any heat source from fossil fuel heat, to geo-thermal
heat, to sunshine. Unlike steam engines, Stirling engines do not use a boiler that might explode if
not carefully monitored. When operating on sunshine, or geo-thermal heat, Stirling engines
obviously produce no pollution at all, but they can be exceedingly low emissions engines even
when burning gasoline, diesel, or home heating oil. Unlike gasoline or diesel engines that have
many thousands of start stop cycles of combustion each minute, burners in Stirling engines burn
fuel continuously.

2
CHAPTER NO 2

HISTORY

3
 HISTORY

The Stirling Engine is one of the hot air engines. It was invented by Robert Stirling (1790-1878)
and his brother James. His father was interesting in engine and he inherited it. He became a
minister of the church at Scotland in 1816. At this period, he found the steam engines are
dangerous for the workers. He decided to improve the design of an existing air engine. He hope
it wound be safer alternative. After one year, he invented a regenerator. He called the
“Economiser” and the engine improves the efficiency. This is the earliest Stirling Engine. It is
put out 100 W to 4 kW. But the internal combustion engine substituted for it quickly. The
Ericsson invented the solar energy in 1864 and did some improvements for after several years.
Robert’s brother, James Stirling, also played an important role in the development of Stirling
engines.

FIGURE 2 : EARLIEST STIRLING ENGINE

Robert Stirling gets a patent for the economizer with an air engine incorporating it in 1817. Since
the Stirling engine worked at a lower pressure, and could not cause steam burns, the danger to
explode is impossible. In 1818 he built the first practical exponent of his engine, used to pump
water from a quarry. The inventors sought to create a safer engine instead of steam engines at
that time, whose boilers often exploded as a result of high pressure of the steam and the
inadequate materials.

The original patent by Reverend Stirling was called the "economizer", for its improvement of
fuel-economy. The patent also mentioned the possibility of using the device in an engine. Several
patents were later determined by two brothers for different configurations including pressurized
versions of the engine. This component is now commonly known as the "regenerator" and is
essential in all high-power Stirling devices.

4
 FIGURE 3 : STIRLING ENGINE’S PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION

Stirling engine of the second generation began in 1937.The Philips of Holland used new
materials and technology to ascend a very high level. The knowledge about the heat transfer and
fluid physical, which is a great significance to improving of the structure and raised the stability.

Throughout World War II and by the late 1940s, Philips’ subsidiary Johan de Witt does this
work continued. And they did the Type 10, incorporated into a generator set as originally
planned The set progressed through three prototypes (102A, B, and C), with the production
version, rated at 200 watts electrical output from a bore and stroke of 55x27mm, being
designated MP1002CA. In 1951, the price of Stirling engine is too high for the market. It made
used of radios at that time. Though the MP1002CA may have been a dead end, it represents the
blooming of the modern age of Stirling Engine development. In addition to which the advent of
transistor radios with their much lower power requirements meant that the market for the set was
fast disappearing. Though the MP1002CA may have been a dead end, it represents the start of
the modern age of Stirling engine development.

5
 CHAPTER NO 3

PRESENTATION OF STIRLING ENGINE

6
PRESENTATION OF STIRLING ENGINES

3.1 Stirling thermodynamic cycle

The Stirling engine cycle is a closed cycle and it contains, most commonly a fixed mass of gas
called the "working fluid" (air, hydrogen or helium). The principle is that of thermal expansion
and contraction of this fluid due to a temperature differential.

So the ideal Stirling cycle consists of four thermodynamics distinct processes acting on the
working fluid: two constant-temperature processes and two constant volume process.

Each one of which can be separately analysed:

 1-2: isothermal compression process. Work W1-2 is done on the working fluid, while
an equal amount of heat Q1-2 is rejected by the system to the cooling source. The
working fluid cools and contracts at constant temperature TC.

 2-3: constant volume displacement process with heat addition. Heat Q2-3 is
absorbed by the working fluid and temperature is raised from T C to TH. No work is
done.

 3-4: isothermal expansion process. Work W3-4 is done by the working fluid, while an
equal amount of heat Q3-4 is added to the system from the heating source. The
working fluid heats and expands at constant temperature TH.

 4-1: constant volume displacement process with heat rejection. Heat Q4-1 is rejected
by the working fluid and temperature decrease from TC to TH. No work is done.

7
The process lines in the figure above reflect the properties of an ideal gas. The main processes,
like for most heat engines, are cooling, compression, heating and expansion. A Stirling engine
operates through the use of an external heat source and an external heat sink having a sufficiently
large temperature difference between them. Compared to the ideal cycle, the efficiency of a real
engine is reduced by irreversibilities, friction, and the loss of short-circuit conducted heat, so that
the overall efficiency is often only about half of the ideal (Carnot) efficiency. The gasses used
inside a Stirling engine never leave the engine. There are no exhaust valves that vent high-
pressure gasses, as in a gasoline or diesel engine, and there are no explosions taking place.
Another useful characteristic of the Stirling engine is that if supplied with mechanical power, it
can function as a heat pump (reversibility of the Stirling cycle). Understanding how a Stirling
engine works is not a simple matter. It is not overly intuitive. Let’s explain the device through
the presentation of the different engines configuration.

3.2 Engine configurations

Mechanical configurations of Stirling engines are classified into three important distinct
types: Alpha, Beta and Gamma arrangements.

These engines also feature a regenerator (invented by Robert Stirling). The regenerator is
constructed by a material that conducts readily heat and has a high surface area (a mesh of
closely spaced thin metal plates for example).

When hot gas is transferred to the cool cylinder, it is first driven through the regenerator, where a
portion of the heat is deposited. When the cool gas is transferred back, this heat is reclaimed.
Thus the regenerator “pre heats” and “pre cools” the working gas, and so improve the efficiency.

But many engines have no apparent regenerator like beta and gamma engines configurations
with a “loose fitting” displacer, the surfaces of the displacer and its cylinder will cyclically
exchange heat with the working fluid providing some regenerative effect. 9

3.3 Alpha Stirling:

Alpha engines have two separate power pistons in separate cylinders which are connected in
series by a heater, a regenerator and a cooler. One is a “hot” piston and the other one a “cold
piston”.

FIGURE 5 : ALPHA ENGINE’S CONFIGURATION

8
The hot piston cylinder is situated inside the high temperature heat exchanger and the cold piston
cylinder is situated inside the low temperature heat exchanger. The generator is illustrated by the
chamber containing the hatch lines.

Expansion: At this point, the most
of the gas in the system is at the
hot piston cylinder. The gas heats
and expands, pushing the hot
piston down, and flowing through
the pipe into the cold cylinder,
pushing it down as well.
Transfer: At this point, the gas
has hot cylinder. As the crankshaft
continues to turn the next 90°,
transferring the bulk of the gas to
the cold piston cylinder. As it does
so, it pushes most of the fluid
through the heat exchanger and
into the cold piston cylinder.

9
Contraction: now the majority of
expanded gas is shifted to the cool
side of the cylinder. It cools and
contracts drawing both the piston
up.
Transfer: The fluid is cooled and
now the crankshaft turns another
90°. The gas therefore pumped
back, through the heat exchanger,
into the hot piston cylinder Once in
this, it is heated and we go back to
the first step.

FIGURE 6 : EXAMPLE OF A REAL CYCLE OF AN ALPHA ENGINE

10
This diagram is feature of an alpha engine. The most important is to have the biggest grey area
which represents the recuperated work during a cycle.

The Alpha engine is conceptually the simplest Stirling engine configuration, however suffers
from the disadvantage that both pistons need to have seals to contain the working gas.

This type of engine has a very high power-to-volume ratio but has technical problems due to the
usually high temperature of the "hot" piston and its seals.

3.4 Beta Stirling

The Beta configuration is the classic Stirling engine configuration and has enjoyed popularity
from its inception until today. Stirling's original engine from his patent drawing of 1816 shows a
Beta arrangement.

Both Beta and Gamma engines use displacer- piston arrangements. The Beta engine has both the
displacer and the piston in an in in-line cylinder system. The Gamma engine uses separate
cylinders.

The purpose of the single power piston and displacer is to “displace” the working gas at constant
volume, and shuttle it between the expansion and the compression spaces through the series
arrangement cooler, regenerator, and heater.

11
A beta Stirling has a single power piston same cylinder on the same shaft as a displacer piston.
The displacer piston is a loose fit and does not extract any power from the expanding gas but
only serves to shuttle the working gas from the hot heat exchanger to the cold heat exchanger.

FIGURE 8 : BETA ENGINE WITH MOMENTUM FLYWHEEL

When the working gas is pushed to the hot end of the cylinder it expands and pushes the power
piston. When it is pushed to the cold end of the cylinder it contracts and the momentum of the
machine, usually enhanced by a flywheel, pushes the power piston the other way to compress the
gas. Unlike the alpha type, the beta type avoids the technical problems of hot moving seals.

Expansion: At this point, the most
of the gas in the system is at the hot
piston cylinder. The gas heats and
expands driving the power piston
outward.
` bulk of the gas is transferred around the
Transfer: At this point, the gas has
expanded. Most of the gas is still located in
the hot end of the cylinder. Flywheel
momentum carries the crankshaft the next
quarter turn. As the crank goes round, the
displacer to the cool end of the cylinder,
driving more fluid into the cooled end of the
cylinder.

12
Contraction: Now the majority of
the expanded gas has been shifted
to the cool end. It contracts and the
displacer is almost at the bottom of
its cycle.
Transfer: The contracted gas is still
located near the cool end of the cylinder.
Flywheel momentum carries the crank
another quarter turn, moving the displacer
and transferring the bulk of the gas back
to the hot end of the cylinder. And at this
point, the cycle repeats.

FIGURE 9 : EXAMPLE OF A REAL CYCLE OF A BETA ENGINE

13
 3.5 Gamma Stirling

A gamma Stirling is simply a beta Stirling in which the power piston is mounted in a
separate cylinder alongside the displacer piston cylinder, but is still connected to the same
flywheel. The gas in the two cylinders can flow freely between them and remains a single body.

This configuration produces a lower compression ratio but is mechanically simpler and often
used in multi-cylinder Stirling engines. Gamma type engines have a displacer and power piston,
similar to Beta machines, but in different cylinders. This allows a convenient complete
separation between the heat exchangers associated with the displacer cylinder and the
compression and expansion work space associated with the piston.

Further more during the expansion process some of the expansion must take place in the
compression space leading to a reduction of specific power. Gamma engines are therefore used
when the advantages of having separate cylinders outweigh the specific power disadvantage.
The advantage of this design is that it is mechanically simpler because of the convenience of
two cylinders in which only the piston has to be sealed.The disadvantage is the lower
compression ratio but the gamma configuration is the favorite for modelers and hobbyists.
11

14
3.6 Other types

Changes to the configuration of mechanical Stirling engines continue to interest engineers and
inventors who create a lot of different version of the Stirling engine.

There is also a large field of "free piston" Stirling cycles engines, including those with liquid
pistons and those with diaphragms as pistons.

For example, as an alternative to the mechanical Stirling engine is the fluidyne pump, which uses
the Stirling cycle via a hydraulic piston. In its most basic form it contains a working gas, a liquid
and two non-return valves. The work produced by the fluidyne goes into pumping the liquid.

15
16
CHAPTER NO 4

PART LIST AND DRAWINGS

17
SR.NO PART NAME QUANTITY MATERIAL
1 Folder 02 Alluminium
2 Links 02 Alluminium
3 Plate Cyllinder 01 Steel
4 Round head screw with cross recess M4X16 10 Steel
5 Round head screw with cross recess M4X25 04 Steel
6 Displacer 1 01 Steel
7 Displacer 2 01 Steel
8 Displacer rod 1 01 Steel
9 Hexagonal nut M6 04 Steel
10 Displacer seal 01 Brass
11 Hot cyllinder 01 02
12 Cold piston 01 01
13 Displacer rod 2 01 Steel
14 Cold cyllinder 01 Steel
15 Grub screw M5 X 10 01 Steel
16 Hexagonal bolt M12 X 12 01 Steel
17 Flywheel 01 Steel
18 Shaft 01 Steel
19 Bush 02 Brass
20 Bearings SKF 608 02 Steel
21 Grub screw M4 X 6 01 Steel
22 Round head bolt M4 X 30 02 steel
23 Crank 02 steel
24 Pin 1 02 steel
25 Connecting rod 02 steel
26 Bush 02 Brass
27 Pin 2 02 Steel
28 Pin 3 04 steel
29 Base plate 01 alluminium
30 Support 02 steel
31 Round head screw M5 X 50 04 steel
PART LIST
32 Heat Dissipator 01 alluminium

ADRAWINGS
4.1 PART DRAWING FOR MODEL
18
PART NO 1

PART NO 2

19
PART NO 3

PART NO 6

20
 PART NO 7

PART NO 8

PART NO 10

21
PART NO 11

PART NO 12

22
PART NO 13

PART NO 14

23
PART NO 17

PART NO 18

24
 PART NO 19

PART NO 23

PART NO 24

25
PART NO 25

26
 PART NO 28

PART NO 27

27
PART NO 29

PART NO 30

28
 PART NO 32

4.2 ASSEMBLY STAGES

29
ASSEMBLY DRAWING 01

30
ASSEMBLY DRAWING 02

31
ASSEMBLY DRAWING 03

32
ASSEMBLY DRAWING 04

33
ASSEMBLY DRAWING 05

34
ASSEMBLY DRAWING 06

35
ASSEMBLY DRAWING 07

36
FINAL ASSEMBLY OF STIRLING ENGINE MODEL

37
CHAPTER NO 5

MATERIAL COST ESTIMATION

38
MATERIAL COST ESTIMATION

5.1 PART LIST

Wt/Uni Rate/Uni Amount

SR. QUAN
PART NAME MATERIAL t In t rs
NO TITY
gms

1 Folder 02 Alluminium 390 97 194

2 Links 02 Alluminium 60 16 32

3 Plate cyllinder 01 steel 1310 230 460

Round head screw with

4 10 steel
cross recess M4X16 2 20

Round head screw with

5 04 steel
cross recess M4X25 2.5 10

6 Displacer 1 01 steel 490 89 89

7 Displacer 2 01 steel 90 16 16

8 Displacer rod 1 01 steel 150 27 27

9 Hexagonal nut M6 04 steel 4 16

10 Displacer seal 01 brass 40 40

11 Hot cyllinder 01 02 630 108 108

12 Cold piston 01 01 110 36 36

13 Displacer rod 2 01 steel 53 15 15

14 Cold cyllinder 01 steel 390 70 140

15 Grub screw M5 X 10 01 steel 8 8

16 Hexagonal bolt M12 X 12 01 steel 9 9

17 Flywheel 01 steel 1800 324 324

18 Shaft 01 steel 90 18 18

19 Bush 02 brass 20 6 12

20 Bearings SKF 608 02 steel 45 90

39
21 Grub screw M4 X 6 01 steel 8 8

22 Round head bolt M4 X 30 02 steel 1.5 3

23 Crank 02 steel 80 15 30

24 Pin 1 02 steel 10 20

25 Connecting rod 02 steel 110 20 40

26 Bush 02 Brass 25 8 16

27 Pin 2 02 Steel 10 20

28 Pin 3 04 steel 10 40

29 Base plate 01 alluminium 1500 375 375

30 Support 02 steel 80 14 28

32 Electric Heater 01 600 600

TOTAL 2844

40
 CHAPTER NO 6

MANUFACTURING PROCESS COSTING

41
MANUFACTURING PROCEDURE

The knowledge of the manufacturing process is of great importance for design various
manufacturing processes used in Mechanical Engineering.

1. Primary shaping processes:

The processes used for preliminary shaping of the machine component are known as
primary shaping .the common operation used for this process are casing, forging,
extruding, rolling, drawing, bending, shearing, spinning, powder metal forming, and
squeezing etc.

2. Machining Process :
The processes used for giving final shape to the machine component, according to the
planed dimensions are known as machining process. The common operation used for this
process are turning, planning, shaping, drilling, boring, reaming, sawing, broaching,
milling, grinding, hobbing etc

3. Surface finishing processes:

The processes used to provide a good surface finish for the machine component are
known as surface finishing processes. The common operations used for this processes are
polishing, buffing, honing, lapping, abrasive belt grinding, barrel tumbling,
electroplating, super finishing, sheradizing etc. ;

4. Joining processes:
The processes used for joining the machine components are known as joining processes.
The common operations used for this processes are welding, reverting, soldering,
brazing, screw fastening, pressing, sintering etc.

42
MANUFACTURING COST

Sr. TOTAL TIME M/C RATE

TOTAL
MACHINE USED
No. IN HOUR. /HOUR. AMOUNT RS.

1) Lathe m/c 3.3 70 231

2) Hacksaw 0.3 100 30

3) Drill m/c 1 180 180

5) Milling m/c 1.5 160 240

7) Table grinder 0.5 80 40

8) Tapping 2 180 360

Total 1081

43
 CHAPTER NO 7

WORKING OF STIRLING ENGINE

44
WORKING OF STIRLING ENGINE
Stirling engine has a sealed cylinder with one part hot and the other cold. The working gas inside
the engine (which is often air, helium, or hydrogen) is moved by a mechanism from the hot side
to the cold side. When the gas is on the hot side it expands and pushes up on a piston. When it
moves back to the cold side it contracts. Properly designed Stirling engines have two power
pulses per revolution, which can make them very smooth running.

HEATING

Let's start from top dead center of the hot piston. The hot piston moves to the upper part of the
cylinder and the cold piston moves to the lower part of the cylinder during the first 90 degrees of
revolution. The working air is moved from the cold space to the hot space. And the pressure in
the engine is increased.

EXPANSION
During the next 90 degrees of revolution, the two pistons both move thelower part accepting the
air pressure. The engine gets its power during this portion of its cycle.

45
COOLING
The crankshaft revolves by power stored in the flywheel for the next 90 degrees. The hot piston
moves to the lower part and the cold piston moves to the upper part. The air is moved from the
hot space to the cold space. And the pressure in the engine is decreased.

CONTRACTION
The two pistons are moved to upper part by the contraction of the air during the next 90
degrees.The engine also gets power during this portion of its cycle. The two piston type Stirling
engine then repeats this cycle.

46
 CHAPTER NO 8

REASONS TO USE STIRLING ENGINE

47
REASONS TO USE A STIRLIN ENGINE

There are several reasons to use a Stirling Engine:

 One reason is that for this kind of engine it’s almost impossible to explode. You don’t
have to produce steam in a high pressure boiler. And inside the cylinder there are no
explosions needed to run the pistons like in an Otto or Diesel engine. There are no
ignitions, no carburetion because you only need one kind of gas and no valve train
because there are no valves. This was a big advantage to the steam engines in the days
when Stirling invented his engine because it was much less dangerous to work next to a
Sterling Engine than to a common steam engine.

 Inside the pistons can be used air, helium, nitrogen or hydrogen and you don’t have to
refill it because it uses always the same body of gas.

FIGURE 13 : SCHEMATIC STIRLING ENGINE

48
 To produce heat you can use whatever you want: fuel, oil, gas, nuclear power and of
course renewable energies like solar, biomass or geothermal heat.

FIGURE 14 : SOLAR PANEL

 The external combustion process can be designed as a continuous process, so the most
types of emissions can be reduced.

 If heat comes from a renewable energy source they produce no emissions.

 They run very silent and they don’t need any air supply. That’s why they are used a lot in
submarines. E.g. in the Royal Swedish Navy.

FIGURE 15 : GOTLAND : HMS

49
 They can run with a small temperature difference, e.g. with the heat of your
hand or from a cup of hot coffee. They can be used as little engines for work
which needs only low power.

FIGURE 16 : LOW POWER STIRLING ENGINE

 They can run for a very long time because the bearings and seals can be placed
at the cool side of the engine → they need less lubricant and they don’t have to
be checked very often ( longer period between the overhauls ).

 They are extremely flexible. The engine can run as a CHP (combined heat and
power) because the heat which is produced to run it can easily be collected. Or
in summers they can be used as coolers.

FIGURE 17 : CHP

50
 CHAPTER NO 9

ANALYZE FROM ECONOMIC POINT OF VIEW

51
ANALYZE FROM ECONOMIC POINT

As said above the Stirling engine is a kind of external combustion engine, and it can use a variety
of fuels. It can be estimated that combustible gases are the best material, including gasoline,
diesel, propane, sunshine and salad oil; even cow dung can be run on as fuels.

A cup of coffee cannot become a cup of gasoline, but it can be also used as a Stirling engine
driver. There is a famous experiment that a Stirling engine can easily run on a cup of coffee. The
Stirling engine is a kind of piston engine. In the external heating sealed chamber, the expansion
of gases inside the engine promotes the pistons work. After the expanded gases cooling down in
the air- conditioned room, next process is taking on. As long as a certain value of the temperature
difference exists, a Stirling Engine can be formed.

FIGURE 18 : STIRLING ENGINE WORKING ON A CUP OF COFFEE

This experiment shows that only a very small power operation can carry out a Stirling engine,
which contributes a lot to energy conservation. This characteristic especially shows out on
economy point. The benefits obtained from the Stirling engine are definitely far beyond the
costs.
So once solar is used to produce energy for the Stirling engine, the cost would
surely be cut down for quite a lot. As long as there is sunshine, the Stirling engine will run on
and on. Of course it costs much to manufacture a Stirling engine, as it requires a high level of the
materials and manufacturing processes. The expansion-side heat exchanger’s temperature is
often very high, so the materials must stand the corrosive consequences of the heat. Typically
these material requirements substantially increase the cost of the engine. The materials and
assembly costs for a high temperature heat exchanger typically accounts for 40% of the total
engine cost. But once the Stirling engine is made and put into a proper condition, quite a
few costs would be paid for keeping it running.

52
Some engines cause a lot of pollution, so much is cost for pollution control and government. On
contrast, Stirling engine exhausts cleanly and avoid this type of matter. Development and
utilization of solar will not pollute the environment, as solar is one of the cleanest energy. While
the environmental pollution is becoming more and more serious today, this characteristic is
extremely valuable. It saves the cost for a lot while making sustainable development.

At the end of 18th century and the early 19th century, heat engine generally is steam engine. Its
efficiency is very low, only 3% to 5%, that is, over 95% of the heat is not used. Stirling
thermodynamic theory is aiming to improve the thermal efficiency. Stirling proposed that the
Stirling cycle efficiency, under the ideal condition, may get the infinite enhancement. Certainly it
cannot come to 100% due to the physical limitation, however the theory provide a direction for
improving the thermal efficiency. In fact, now the efficiency of Stirling engine can come up to
80% or even more. So another part of cost is saved.

Nowadays, more and more countries have recognized that a society with sustainable
development should be able to meet the needs of the community without endangering future
generations. Therefore, use clean energy as much as possible instead of the high carbon content
of fossil energy is a principle which should be followed during energy construction. Vigorously
develop new and renewable sources of energy utilization technology will be an important
measure to reduce pollution.

Energy problem is a worldwide one, and it is sooner or later to get into the transitionto- new-
energy period. Because of its sustainability, renewably and efficiency, the Stirling engine is just
the very one being consistent with the requirements of the times.

53
 CHAPTER NO 10

APPLICATION OF STIRLING POWER

54
APPLICATIONS OF THE STIRLING POWER

10.1 Cars

In the ages of 1970s and 1980s several automobile companies like “General Motors” or “Ford”
were researching about Stirling Engine. This device is good for a constant power setting, but it is
a challenge for the stop and go of the automobile.A good car can change the power quickly. One
possibility to obtain this important characteristic is design a power control mechanism that will
turn up or down the burner. This is a slow method of changing power levels because is not
enough to accelerate crossing an intersection.

The best solution in spite of these difficulties in automobiles is hybrid electric cars where Stirling
Engine could give enough power to make long trips where could get burn gasoline or diesel,
depending on which fuel was cheaper. The batteries could give the instant acceleration that
drivers are used to. This invention makes the car silent and clean running.

FIGURE 19 : HYBRID CAR DESIGNED BY GM 1

55
10.2 Submarine

“Kockums”, a Swedish defense contractor, produce Stirling Engines for the navy making the
quietest submarines in the world.

FIGURE 20 : AIP SYSTEM

This high-technology is named air-independent propulsion (AIP). There are four submarines
equipment with Stirling AIP. The models are HMS Näcken, which was launch in 1978 and after
ten years 1988 became the first submarine equipped with AIP system, by means of a cut and
lengthened by an intersection of a Stirling AIP section, which before the installation is equipped
by two Stirling units, liquid oxygen (LOX) tanks and electrical equipment.

Successful demonstration of AIP system during many routine patrols of HMS Näcken made that
Gotland, another type of submarine, was the first submarine designed from the beginning to
operate with AIP system.

The other four submarines that operates with this technology are two Söderman class were
upgraded by 2004.

56
 FIGURE 21 : STIRLING ENGINE IN NÄCKEN

If the Stirling was designed to operate at ambientpressure (and had a valve system to ensure
such) then itcould be enclosed in a small bubble of gas that wouldslowly be crushed by the
pressure of the ocean andincrease the internal working volume of gas to a level that could not be
easily achieved at sea level. With such enormous internal pressure the power output would be
huge!

“Mick Viner, June 23, 2002”

10.3 Aircrafts

In relation about Stirling engines in aircraft, the communities near airports could benefit from the
quiet engine. Unlike other types of aircrafts this kind of aircrafts increases the performance
climbs to altitude.

FIGURE 22 : TORQUE-CRANKSHAFT ANGLE

57
Like is showed above vibration is an area that Stirling excel. The shaft torque on four cylinders
varies from 100% negative to 350% positive in each revolution. Only 5% of variation
characterised the quiet engine obviously increasing the comfort of occupants as well as airframe
fatigue is greatly reduced and isolator’s materials.

Less vibration is good advantage forthe propeller in means of torque,nowadays the propeller is
designed considering the pulse of torque As long as the prop is also the flywheel it must be
heavy and robust. Usually the first failure is the ignition system, in the Stirling the ignition is
necessary at the beginning to start the fire after is not needed. Another hamper is eliminated
without valves. In the following graph it is possible see that the performance of the Stirling
engine increases with altitude because the system is sealed without reference of ambient air
density. As the outside temperature declines, engine power increases. This compounds the
natural ability of the aircraft to fly faster as air density decreases.

FIGURE 23 : ALTITUDE-AIRSPEED

58
Stirling allow the plane to cruise above the weather rather than trough it thus it is a safety aspect
because there are many accidents because the weather. In addiction, the possibility of the pilot to
choose the altitude could benefit the optimize use of the winds.

There are several reasons for the superior fuel economy. First, the Stirling is a much more
efficient powerplant. An internal combustion engine takes in new air and fuel for each stroke,
saving nothing from the previous one. But the Stirling re-uses the same heat energy on
successive strokes; the fuel is only needed to make up the losses.
The second reason is that the fuel is always burned full lean, at the best air/fuel ratio, while
normal aircraft engines actually use gasoline as a coolant. The Stirling also uses the exhaust from
the burner to preheat the incoming combustion air. Since the Stirling exhaust is cool, it is
obvious that less energy is being thrown away.

“Darryl Philip, April 1993”

10.4 Heat and power System

This device replaces traditional boilers in houses. It is an innovative system developed to provide
central heating, water heating and electricity

FIGURE 24 : AC WHISPER GEN

Usually this device is called “Micro Combined Heat and Power (CHP)” and produces much less
carbon dioxide than other ways of providing heat and power. In fact, if the level of CHP was
increased to the Government's target of 10,000 MW, the UK could be one third of the way to
meeting its international commitments to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

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The company Whisper Gen has launched to the market the market MkV AC gas fired that
consists in four cylinders with double acting Stirling cycle. It is possible coach heat output from
7.5-12KW at 220-240V
Benefits:
Savings through the production of own electricity.
Reduce emissions of CO2 and other emissions.
Avoiding peak-load costs when the network is overloaded.
Allows for rapid introduction of new generation capacity.

The performance is over 90% of the fuel energy resulting in a cleaner and more cost effective
alternative to traditional electricity generation. Electricity generated can be fed back into the
electricity grid or used in the home, reducing electricity costs even further. Invent provides an
average household with a saving of about £150 per year. It also reduces carbon dioxide
emissions by up to 1.5 tonnes per year, a real contribution towards tackling the effects of global
warming. That’s 20% less carbon dioxide per household.

10.5 Cryocooler

If It is applied mechanical energy instead of cold and heat sources by means of external engine,
It is possible reach temperatures like 10 K (-263°C) in machines of high technology.

The first Stirling-cycle cryocooler was developed at Philips in the 1950s and commercialized in
such places as liquid nitrogen production plants. This company is still active in the development
and manufacturing Stirling cryocoolers and cryogenic cooling systems.

A wide variety of smaller size Stirling cryocoolers are commercially available for tasks such as
the cooling of sensors.
Thermoacoustic refrigeration uses a Stirling cycle in a working gas which is created by high
amplitude sound waves.

10.6 Nuclear power

Steam turbines of a nuclear plan can be replaced by Stirling engine thus reduce the radioactive
by-products and be more efficient. Steam plants use liquid sodium as coolant in breeder reactors,
water/sodium exchanger are required, which in some cases that temperature increase so much
this coolant could reacts violently with water.

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 FIGURE 25 : CONCEPTUAL DESIGN OF THE SRG BY LOCKHEED

NASA has developed a Stirling Engine known as Stirling Radioisotope (SRG) Generator
designed to generate electricity in for deep space proves in lasting missions. The heat source is a
dry solid nuclear fuel slug and the cold source is space itself. This device converter produces
about four times more electric power from the plutonium fuel than a radioisotope thermoelectric
generator. These generators have been extensively tested but have not yet been deployed on
actual missions. Thus each SRG will utilise two Stirling converter units with about 500 watts of
thermal power supplied by two GPHS (General Purpose Heat Source) units and will deliver 100-
120 watts of electric power. Each GPHS contains four iridium-clad Pu-238 fuel pellets, stands 5
cm tall, 10 cm square and weighs 1.44 kg. The hot end of the Stirling converter reaches 650°C.
The power output of the generator will be greater than 100 W at the beginning of life, but the
wear out of plutonium decrease the heat source. However control system allows long life.

10.7 Solar Energy

Placed at the focus of a parabolic mirror a Stirling engine can convert solar energy to electricity
with efficiency better than non-concentrated photovoltaic cells. In 2005 It is created a 1 kW
Stirling generator with a solar concentrator, this was a herald of the coming of a revolutionary
solar, nowadays It generates electricity much more efficiently and economically than
Photovoltaic (PV) systems whit technology called concentrated solar power (CPS). Nowadays
the company Infina Applications has development a 3 kW Solar Stirling Product.

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Some companies are launching technology using steel, cooper, aluminium and glass in the same
low cost manufacturing techniques used to make consumer products. The equipment is well
characterized with over 25,000 hours of on-sun time.

This technology is the world´s most efficiency for the conversion of solar energy to grid delivery
electricity, roughly twice as efficient of the others alternative solar technologies.

By a mirror to focus the sun’s rays on the receiver end of a Stirling engine. The internal side of
the receiver then heats hydrogen gas, which expands. The pressure created by the expanding gas
drives a piston, crank shaft, and drive shaft assembly much like those found in internal
combustion engines but without igniting the gas. The drive shaft is connected to a small
electricity generator.

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This solar application is called concentration solar power (CSP) and is significant potential grid
for water pumping or electrification.
In California there is a big contract where the electrical output represents from approximately
1.4 percent to 2.6 percent of Edison’s annual sales.

Next year the Stirling solar dish will be able to be in the market, therefore high capacity to
produce energy with the power of sun helping to reduce emissions of CO2 gases.

It is possible nowadays dream with CHP plants working with Stirling Engines and it is expected
that this technology will be commercially available within the next few years.

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NASA uses an advanced system to concentrate the sunlight. Waste heat is removed through a
heat exchanger and dissipated by radiator panels to space. The power and distribution system is
based on the closed Brayton cycle. A recuperative heat exchanger between the turbine discharge
and receiver inlet is used to improve cycle efficiency. Long life is made possible through the use
of non-contacting gas bearings, hermetic sealing of the gas circuit, redundant electronic
components, and ultraviolet/atomic oxygen protective coatings on all optical surfaces. Radiation
degradation is reduced relative to solar photovoltaic arrays since semi-conducting materials are
not used on the large exposed surfaces.

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 CHAPTER NO 11

CONCLUSION AND FUTURE SCOPE

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 CONCLUSION

Stirling engines qualify for “free energy” designation when they allow us to tap previously
inaccessible sources of naturally occurring energy. Stirling cycle engines are very efficient for a
given temperature difference between the heat source and the heat sink. Actually, steam engines
(the Rankine cycle) fall into this category, too.

Stirling Engines are very flexible. There are a lot of different types of engines. They can be very
small and run with only a small temperature difference, they are very quiet, for example to use
them in submarines or they can be used as a CHP plant.

Another good point is that they can be constructed in a way that they produce no emissions. That
means, in combination with solar or geothermal heat, they can be used as a renewable energy
source to produce electricity.

The Stirling engine is an interesting device like it is showed in this document with various
applications and high development. Its advantages are really beneficial for the environment
because it is possible produce electricity with the power of sun with high efficiency (theorically
like the Carnot Cycle). It is a huge advantage to the economy because is possible to burn the
cheapest fuel and it is working instead of the more expensive one. And this engine is comfortable
for the people because is quiet and not noisy like an internal combustion engine.

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FUTURE SCOPE

As is showed above, the Stirling engine has strong economic practicality. Above all, the original
cost is quite lower than for any other engines. Even a few calories can drive it and keep it
running. The next point is that the auxiliary costs are low, because the Stirling engine costs little
on environment protection.

The fuels it uses can be clean, so it costs little to handle with pollution governance. What is
more, the profit of the Stirling engine is far beyond the cost. And the high efficiency can bring
the maximum utilization.

The real renewable energy is the solar application for this device because the other ways to
produce the heat source are burning something. It is possible to decrease the emissions of CO2 or
other toxic gases but not eliminate completely this problem for the earth and therefore for
humans. This application could be one of the different ways to solve the problem of greenhouse
gas emissions and to continue and also to develop our comfort.

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REFERENCES

68
REFERENCES

Books/Magazines

 Technology and engineering-By B.P. Pundir

 Automotive stirling technology-By Jack Erjavec
 Modern engine technology-By Richad Van Basshuyen
 Stirling engine-By Brian Cowan

 Automotive engine international-U.S.A. Magazines

Websites
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stirling_engine
 http://www.kockums.se
 http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/tmsb/index.html
 http://www.infiniacorp.com/main.htm
 http://www.stirlingenergy.com
 http://www.whispergen.com/index.cfm
 http://www.sunpower.com/index.php
 http://www.sesusa.org/index.html
 http://news.soliclima.com
 http://www.nrel.gov/csp
 http://www.bekkoame.ne.jp/%7Ekhirata/english/others.htm
 http://www.cec.uchile.cl/~roroman/

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REFERENCES OF FIGURES:

Figure1 www.sunpower.com
Figure2 www.creusot.net/archives/idee/stirling/img/stirling.gif
Figure3 tw.f14.yahoofs.com/myper/38.gq_GFHRT.YwEw_4YGB5QSPA--
/blog/ap_20060827013919701.jpg?TT_8kNHB1B7ghYo0
Figure4 http://mac6.ma.psu.edu/stirling/ideal_stirling_cycle/index.html
Figure5 http://www.ent.ohiou.edu/~urieli/stirling/engines/engines.htm
Figure6 http://www.moteurstirling.com/alpha.htm
Figure7 http://www.ent.ohiou.edu/~urieli/stirling/engines/beta.html
Figure8 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stirling_engine
Figure9 http://www.moteurstirling.com/beta.htm
Figure10 http://www.ent.ohiou.edu/~urieli/stirling/engines/gamma.html
Figure11 http://www.moteurstirling.com/gamma.htm
Figure12 http://www.diracdelta.co.uk/science/source/s/t/stirling%20engine/source.html
Figure13 http://blog.steamshift.com/2005/05/
Figure14 http://techfreep.com/category/energy/
Figure15 http://www.kockums.se/News/photostock/photo.html
Figure16 http://www.sensi.org/~svo/stirling/
Figure17 http://energytech.at/(en)/kwk/portrait_kapitel-2_6.html
Figure18 jiucifang.blog.bokee.net/bloggermodule/blog_viewblog.do?id=961285
Figure19 www.autobloggreen.com/tag/ford/
Figure20 www.kockums.se/Submarines/aipconversion.html
Figure21 www.kockums.se/Submarines/aipconversion.html
Figure22 www.cse.iitk.ac.in/.../371/abhishe/main1.html
Figure23 www.cse.iitk.ac.in/.../371/abhishe/main1.html
Figure24 www.whispergen.com/main/acwhispergen/
Figure25 www.grc.nasa.gov/.../5000/5490schreiber.html
Figure26 www.stirlingenergy.com/solar_overview.htm
Figure27 www.stirlingenergy.com/images.asp?Type=solar
Figure28 www.grc.nasa.gov/.../doc/adv_sd_tech.html

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