Thermodynamic and Detail Design of a 0.5 kW Stirling Engine for Domestic Scale Cogeneration

Abstract

This paper describes the principal aspects of the thermodynamic and detail design of a prototype Stirling engine, primarily intended to be mass produced for use in a domestic scale combined heat and power (CHP) system. These include the design of the natural gas fired burner, the heat-transfer system (the regenerator and the cast compression and expansion space heat exchangers) and the crankdrive The latter includes the use of dry running bearings and seals, in answer to the inherent lubrication and gas sealing problems of the Stirling engine.