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Title: Comparison of free-piston Stirling engine model predoctions with RE1000 Engine test data

Conference · · Proc., Intersoc. Energy Convers. Eng. Conf.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5918583

Predictions of a free-piston Stirling engine model are compared with RE1000 Sunpower engine test data taken at NASA-Lewis Research Center. The model validation and the engine testing are being done under a joint interagency agreement between the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory and NASA Lewis. A kinematic code developed at Lewis was upgraded by Mechanical Technology, Inc. to permit simulation of free-piston engine performance; it was further upgraded and modified at Lewis and is currently being validated. The model predicts engine performance by numerical integration of equations for each control volume in the working space. Piston motions are determined by numerical integration of the force balance on each piston or can be specified as Fourier series. In addition, the model Fourier analyzes the various piston forces to permit the construction of phasor force diagrams. The paper compares predicted and experimental values of power and efficiency and shows phasor force diagrams for the RE1000 engine displacer and piston. Further development plans for the model are also discussed.

Research Organization:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lewis Research Center Cleveland, Ohio
OSTI ID:
5918583
Report Number(s):
CONF-840804-
Journal Information:
Proc., Intersoc. Energy Convers. Eng. Conf.; (United States), Vol. 3; Conference: Intersociety energy conversion engineering conference, San Francisco, CA, USA, 19 Aug 1984
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English