Energy, exergy and cost analysis of a micro-cogeneration system based on an Ericsson engine

Hot air engines (Stirling and Ericsson engines) are well suited for micro-cogeneration applications because they are noiseless, and they require very low maintenance. Ericsson engines (i.e. Joule cycle reciprocating engines with external heat supply) are especially interesting because their design is less constrained than Stirling engines, leading to potentially cheaper and energetically better systems. We study the coupling of such an Ericsson engine with a system of natural gas combustion. In order to design this plant, we carry out classic energy, exergy and exergo-economic analyses. This study does not deal with a purely theoretical thermodynamic cycle. Instead, it is led with a special attempt to describe as accurately as possible what could be the design and the performance of a real engine. It allows us to balance energetic performance and heat exchanger sizes, to plot the exergy Grassmann diagram, and to evaluate the cost of the thermal and electric energy production. These simple analyses confirm the interest of such systems for micro-cogeneration purposes. The main result of this study is thus to draw the attention on Ericsson engines, unfortunately unfairly fallen into oblivion.