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Free-Piston Stirling Engines - A Progress Report
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Sector:
Event:
Fleet Week
Language:
English
Abstract
The concentric piston-displacer type of free-piston Stirling engine is being developed at Ohio University for use as a gas-fired air conditioner, a long-life isotope powered electric generator, a solar-electric energy converter, a solar water pump, and a simple classroom demonstrator.
A linear alternator-engine combination has demonstrated 8% overall efficiency at a power output of 17 W with 600 K (620°F) heater wall temperature.
A free-cylinder water pump intended for solar energy operation has achieved 6% overall system efficiency using electric heat at 790 K (960°F).
An engine intended for gas-fired air conditioning has reached 1 kW power output and has demonstrated an ability to self-start on application of heat at 370 K (200°F).
Some experiments have been made with condensing working fluids capable of producing power at low heater temperature.
Several design innovations have been made, including a very simple and effective method of preventing piston position creep, and several means of displacer driving.
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Authors
Citation
Beale, W., Holmes, W., Lewis, S., and Cheng, E., "Free-Piston Stirling Engines - A Progress Report," SAE Technical Paper 730647, 1973, https://doi.org/10.4271/730647.Also In
References
- Beale William T. “Free-Piston Stirling Engines-Some Model Tests and Simulations.” Paper 690230 , presented at SAE Automotive Engineering Congress Detroit January 1969
- Beale W. Rauch J. Lewis R. Mulej D. “Free Cylinder Stirling Engines for Solar Powered Water Pumps.” ASME Paper 71-WA/Sol. 11 1971
- Beale W. “A Free-Piston Stirling Engine Driven Inertia Compressor for Gas-Fired Air Conditioning.” Paper presented at AGA-IGT Second Conference on Natural Gas Research and Technology Atlanta June 1972
- Laithwaite Mamak “An Oscillating Synchronous Linear Machine.” Proceedings I.E.E. 109 August 1962 415