Stirling engines for gas fired micro-cogen and cooling
- Sunpower, Inc., Athens, OH (United States)
This paper describes the design and performance of free-piston Stirling engine-alternators particularly suited for use as natural gas fired micro-cogen and cooling devices. Stirling based cogen systems offer significant potential advantages over internal combustion engines in efficiency, to maintain higher efficiencies at lower power levels than than combustion engines significantly expands the potential for micro-cogen. System cost reduction and electric prices higher than the U.S. national average will have a far greater effect on commercial success than any further increase in Stirling engine efficiency. There exist niche markets where Stirling engine efficiency. There exist niche markets where Stirling based cogen systems are competitive. Machines of this design are being considered for production in the near future as gas-fired units for combined heat and power in sufficiently large quantities to assure competitive prices for the final unit.
- OSTI ID:
- 414853
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9606149-; TRN: 96:004818-0010
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Strategic gas forum: conference and exposition, Detroit, MI (United States), 19-20 Jun 1996; Other Information: PBD: 1996; Related Information: Is Part Of Strategic gas forum: Conference & expo; PB: 155 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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