Analytical model for predicting the effect of operating speed on shaft power output of Stirling engines

This paper is concerned with numerical predictions of relationship between operating speed and shaft power output of Stirling engines. Temperature variations in expansion and compression spaces as well as the shaft power output corresponding to different operating speeds were investigated by using a lumped-mass transient model. Effects of major operating parameters on power output were studied. Results show that as the operating speed increased, temperature difference between the expansion and compression spaces was reduced and as a result, the shaft work output decreased. However, the shaft power output is determined in terms of the shaft work output and the operating speed. When the operating speed was elevated, the shaft power output reached a maximum at a critical operating speed. Over the critical operating speed, the shaft power output decreased in high-speed regime. In addition, as air mass was reduced, either a decrease in thermal resistances or an increase in effectivenesses of the regenerator leads to an increase in the engine power.

► In this study, an efficient lumped-mass model is proposed and used to predict the performance of the Stirling engines. ► The relationship between the operating speed and the power output is investigated and clarified by the present model. ► A practical test engine is used as the analyzed target and experiments are conducted. ► The study is the first attempt that introduces the mechanism effectiveness concept in the analytical model.