Free-piston Stirling engine experimental program: Part 2. An evaluation of loss mechanisms
A series of experiments is described in which measurements were taken on a free-piston Stirling engine to isolate effects believed to degrade engine performance. The effects examined were: compression-space hysteresis, regenerator losses, displacer seal clearance loss, and displacer appendix gap loss. The experimental data from these experiments are given and represent a valuable resource for validation of Stirling engine analysis methods. The most significant of the above effects was found to be the clearance between the displacer and cylinder wall. Best performance was attained by a close clearance seal of 2 mils. Greater clearances or use of a piston ring degraded performance. Overall efficiency of the engine was raised several points due to this finding.
- Research Organization:
- Mechanical Technology, Inc., Latham, NY (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 5453392
- Report Number(s):
- ANL-CT-83-7-Pt.2; ON: DE84003658
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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