Stirling engine
Stirling engine
Description:
A Stirling motor is a heat engine that operates by cyclic compression and expansion of air or other gas, the working fluid, at different temperature levels such that there is a net conversion of heat energy to mechanical work. The motor is an external combustion unit like a steam engine in that all heat transfer takes place through the engine wall and the heat source is outside the engine. But unlike the steam engine, the working fluid used by the Stirling motor is a fixed quantity of gas either air or other type. Similarly to other heat engines, the general cycle consists of compressing cool gas, heating the gas, expanding the hot gas, and finally cooling the gas again before repeating the cycle. The Stirling motor is noted for its high efficiency, quiet operation, and can be used with any type of heat source as the renewable ones.
The Stirling Motor unit designed by PEZHVAK PAZHOOH SANAT is an alfa type engine. It consists of two power pistons located in separate cylinders (one for the cold source and another for the hot one). They are connected to a tube where the regenerator is located, which stores and transfer the heat, that enables to reach a higher efficiency. There is a piston in each cylinder, they move with a phase difference of 90º between them. Cylinders are connected by a crankshaft, which makes the power/volume ratio be quite high, since the power transfer mechanism is very simple. Gas moves between the both cylinders in a close circuit. The external heat source provides energy to the hot cylinder and the expansion of the gas moves its piston, which is fixed to the other piston of the cold cylinder by means of a crankshaft. The hot gas passes to the cold cylinder. During this time the cold cylinder piston compresses the cooled gas and forces it to move to the hot cylinder, where it receives the heat from the hot source and the cycle starts again.
Experimental and practical Possibilities:
Study of the conversion of thermal-mechanical-electrical energy
Study of the relationship between the temperatures difference of the thermal machine and the speed generated.
Calculation of the "threshold" temperatures difference which generates motion
Study of the mechanical and electrical power in relation to speed
Mechanical an electrical efficiency calculation
Device component:
Alpha type stirling engine
Heater
Pulley
Generator
Pressure and temperature sensor
