An update of free-piston Stirling engine heat pump development

Conference · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1986 · ASHRAE Trans.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6566384

Ackermann, R A; Clinch, J M; Privon, G T

A Free-Piston Stirling Engine Heat Pump (FPSE/HP) for residential applications has been under development for the past five years. The system consists of a natural gas combustor, free-piston Stirling engine, and a variable-stroke resonant piston refrigerant compressor. The compressor is linked to the engine via a unique hydraulic transmission that provides for both efficient power transfer and hermetic sealing between the engine working fluid (helium) and the compressor refrigerant. This development effort has led to a breadboard heat pump power module, engine/transmission/compressor, that has undergone a comprehensive test program to evaluate the performance of an FPSE/HP and to judge its potential for further development. The results obtained from this testing are presented in this paper.

• Research Organization: Free-Piston Engine Program, Mechanical Technology Inc., Latham, NY
• OSTI ID: 6566384
• Report Number(s): CONF-8606125-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: ASHRAE Trans.; (United States) Journal Volume: 92:2B
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320106* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Building Equipment-- (1987-)
BUILDINGS
COMBUSTORS
COMPRESSORS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENGINES
EQUIPMENT
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
HEAT ENGINES
HEAT PUMPS
HELIUM
HYDRAULIC EQUIPMENT
MACHINE PARTS
MECHANICAL TRANSMISSIONS
NATURAL GAS
NONMETALS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PISTONS
RARE GASES
REFRIGERANTS
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
SEALS
STIRLING ENGINES
TESTING
WORKING FLUIDS