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Title: 40 kW Stirling engine for solid fuel

Abstract

The external combustion in a Stirling engine makes it very attractive for utilization of solid fuels in decentralized combined heat and power (CHP) plants. Only few projects have concentrated on the development of Stirling engines specifically for biomass. In this project a Stirling engine has been designed primarily for utilization of wood chips. Maximum shaft power is 40 kW corresponding to an electric output of 36 kW. Biomass needs more space in the combustion chamber compared to gas and liquid fuels, and a large heat transfer area is necessary. The design of the new Stirling engine has been adapted to the special demands of combustion of wood chips, resulting in a large engine compared to engines for gas or liquid fuels. The engine has four-cylinders arranged in a square. The design is made as a hermetic unit, where the alternator is built into the pressurized crankcase so that dynamic seals are avoided. Grease lubricated bearings are used in a special designed crank mechanism, which eliminates guiding forces on the pistons Helium is used as working gas at 4 MPa mean pressure. The first test of the 40 kW engine with natural gas as fuel has been made in the laboratory,more » and the results are in agreement with predicted results from simulation programs. The wood chips combustion system has been tested for some time with very promising results. When the laboratory test of the engine is finished, the test of the complete system will be initiated. The paper describes the engine and results from the test program. Expectations to maintenance and operation problems are also discussed.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Technical Univ. of Denmark, Lyngby (Denmark). Dept. for Energy Engineering
  2. Voelund R and D Centre, Kolding (Denmark)
  3. REKA A/S, Aars (Denmark)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
474388
Report Number(s):
CONF-960805-
TRN: IM9723%%281
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: 31. intersociety energy conversion engineering conference, Washington, DC (United States), 9-14 Aug 1996; Other Information: PBD: 1996; Related Information: Is Part Of Proceedings of the 31. intersociety energy conversion engineering conference. Volume 2: Conversion technologies, electro-chemical technologies, stirling engines, thermal management; Chetty, P.R.K.; Jackson, W.D.; Dicks, E.B. [eds.]; PB: 867 p.
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS; 09 BIOMASS FUELS; 32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION; DUAL-PURPOSE POWER PLANTS; REFUSE-FUELED POWER PLANTS; STIRLING ENGINES; WOOD WASTES; ALTERNATORS; DIAGRAMS

Citation Formats

Carlsen, H, Ammundsen, N, and Traerup, J. 40 kW Stirling engine for solid fuel. United States: N. p., 1996. Web.
Carlsen, H, Ammundsen, N, & Traerup, J. 40 kW Stirling engine for solid fuel. United States.
Carlsen, H, Ammundsen, N, and Traerup, J. 1996. "40 kW Stirling engine for solid fuel". United States.
@article{osti_474388,
title = {40 kW Stirling engine for solid fuel},
author = {Carlsen, H and Ammundsen, N and Traerup, J},
abstractNote = {The external combustion in a Stirling engine makes it very attractive for utilization of solid fuels in decentralized combined heat and power (CHP) plants. Only few projects have concentrated on the development of Stirling engines specifically for biomass. In this project a Stirling engine has been designed primarily for utilization of wood chips. Maximum shaft power is 40 kW corresponding to an electric output of 36 kW. Biomass needs more space in the combustion chamber compared to gas and liquid fuels, and a large heat transfer area is necessary. The design of the new Stirling engine has been adapted to the special demands of combustion of wood chips, resulting in a large engine compared to engines for gas or liquid fuels. The engine has four-cylinders arranged in a square. The design is made as a hermetic unit, where the alternator is built into the pressurized crankcase so that dynamic seals are avoided. Grease lubricated bearings are used in a special designed crank mechanism, which eliminates guiding forces on the pistons Helium is used as working gas at 4 MPa mean pressure. The first test of the 40 kW engine with natural gas as fuel has been made in the laboratory, and the results are in agreement with predicted results from simulation programs. The wood chips combustion system has been tested for some time with very promising results. When the laboratory test of the engine is finished, the test of the complete system will be initiated. The paper describes the engine and results from the test program. Expectations to maintenance and operation problems are also discussed.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/474388}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1996},
month = {Tue Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1996}
}

Conference:
Other availability
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