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Potential performance of an engine-driven Stirling heat pump

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6163564

The potential of an engine-driven Stirling heat pump as an effective industrial heat recovery device is explored. A brief comparison is first made of the general performance of Stirling and Rankine refrigeration cycles. A simplified approach is given for the mathematical simulator of a Stirling cycle, which assumes a piston-displacer, valveless arrangement, and discontinuous operation. The relative energy use and COP for an idealized engine-driven Stirling heat pump were calculated as a function of system delivered temperature for source temperature between 150/sup 0/ and 300/sup 0/F, and comparisons are made with Rankine and Brayton systems. It is concluded with some moderations that the Stirling-type heat pumps operating at higher temperature levels and with larger temperature differences considered could be as viable as an equivalently operating Rankine heat pump. (MCW)

Research Organization:
Hittman Associates, Inc., Columbia, MD (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AM03-76CS70001
OSTI ID:
6163564
Report Number(s):
DOE/CS/70001-T1; ON: DE81023969
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English