Parametric testing and evaluation of a free-piston Stirling engine/linear compressor system

Conference · Mon Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1983 · Proc., Intersoc. Energy Convers. Eng. Conf.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5416735

Chiu, W; Antoniak, Z; Hogan, J

A 3 Kw free-piston Stirling engine (FPSE) driving a linear Rankine cycle vapor compressor has been under development by the Department of Energy, the Gas Research Institute and General Electric Company as a heat activated heat pump (HAHP) for residential applications since 1976. This paper presents data obtained from recent testing on the FPSE/linear compressor unit. System performance and engine/compressor matching and control tests and analyses are presented and discussed. Engine component performance and loss test data are also presented. A description of the low-cost real-time digital data acquisition system is included. Engine/compressor test results show maximum engine power levels over 3 Kw, close to the design goal of 3.2 Kw. However, maximum efficiency is approximately 25 percent, 5 points below the design goal. The test results are used to construct maps of engine performance and compressor performance. These maps support the engine/compressor matching techniques. Confirmation of the control system features needed to provide matched engine/compressor operation is presented. Loss measurements under engine oscillating flow conditions show that quasi-steady models of oscillating flow substantially underestimate losses, and that various Stirling engine models predict significantly different component losses. Both performance and component loss test results are combined with simulation trends to identify design improvements to the current hardware and the projected performance increases.

• Research Organization: General Electric Company/Advanced Energy Programs Department, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
• OSTI ID: 5416735
• Report Number(s): CONF-830812-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Proc., Intersoc. Energy Convers. Eng. Conf.; (United States) Journal Volume: 2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
330201* -- External Combustion Engines-- Stirling Cycle
BUILDINGS
COMPRESSORS
CONTROL SYSTEMS
DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEMS
DESIGN
DIGITAL SYSTEMS
EFFICIENCY
ENGINES
EVALUATION
FLUID FLOW
FLUIDS
GASES
HEAT ENGINES
HEAT PUMPS
MAPPING
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
OSCILLATIONS
PERFORMANCE
PISTONS
POWER GENERATION
RANKINE CYCLE
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
SIMULATION
STIRLING ENGINES
TESTING
THERMODYNAMIC CYCLES
UNSTEADY FLOW
US DOE
US ORGANIZATIONS
VAPORS