Stirling Engines: New Old Technology

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Stirling EnginesNew Old Technology
A brief description of the technology, history,
and status. Presented By Donald Isaac, Jr.
Lockheed Martin Palo Alto Colloquia 21 April 2005
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Introduction

• Brief History
• Technical Description
• Stirling Engine Gallery
• Applications
• Conclusions

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History
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History - Hot Air Engine

• Hot Gas Engine
• Thomas Mead, Yorkshire
• 1794 Patent

Rev Robert Stirling D.D, 1995, R. Sier
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History - Reverend Robert Stirling

• 1790 - 1878
• 1805-1808 Edinburgh University
• 1809-1814 Glasgow University
• 1816 Ordained
• Economiser Patent 1816
• Worked with brother James.

• Rev Robert Stirling D.D., 1995, R. Sier

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History - Stirling Engine
Stirling Machine World, B. Ross, SEP 89
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History - Economiser

• 1818
• Thin Metal Plates or Wires
• Increased Efficiency

Rev Robert Stirling D.D., R. Sier, 1995
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History - Rider

• Alpha Type

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History - Ericsson

• Beta Type
• This engine was used for pumping water near
  Tucson, AZ from 1895 - 1920

5, 6, 8, and 10 inch Ericsson Engines
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History - Lehman

• Beta Type
• Circa 1866

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History - American Machine Co.

• Beta Type
• 1895

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History - Philips MP1002C Genset

• Beta Type
• 1948-1951
• 150 Built
• 200 Welect, 1500 rpm

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History - General Motors GPU-3

• Beta Type
• Circa 1979
• Inaudible at 100 meters
• 3400 W _at_ 3500 rpm w/800 psig He
• 4500 W _at_ 3500 rpm w/600 psig H2

Stirling Engine Design Manual, Martini, 1983
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History - Sunpower/Briggs and Stratton

• Beta Type
• Circa 1979
• Atmospheric Air
• 900 W _at_ 1100 rpm

Engine being rebuilt at J. Tangemans shop, 1997.
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Technical Description
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Technical Description - Stirling Cycle Schematic
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Technical Description - Stirling Cycle
Thermodynamics
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Technical Description - Hot Gas Displacer
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Technical Description - Simple Hot Gas Engine
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Technical Description - Hot Gas Engine
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Technical Description - Stirling Engine
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Technical Description - Types

• Alpha
• Beta
• Gamma
• Franchot
• Siemens

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Technical Description - Alpha Type
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Technical Description - Gamma Type
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Technical Description - Beta Type
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Technical Description - Franchot Type
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Technical Description - Siemens Type
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Stirling Versatility
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Stirling Versatility
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Stirling Versatility
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Stirling Versatility
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Technical Description - Mechanisms

• Crank
• Rhombic
• Ross
• Swashplate
• Martini Displacer
• Ringbom

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Technical Description - Crank
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Technical Description - Rhombic
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Technical Description - Ross Yoke
Making Stirling Engines, A. Ross, 1993
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Technical Description - Working Fluids
Working fluids should have high heat transfer and
low pressure drop characteristics
The Stirling Alternative 1994
Walker,Reader,Fauvel,Bingham
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Technical Description - Torque Comparison
The Stirling Alternative 1994
Walker,Reader,Fauvel,Bingham
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Technical - Energy Balance
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Technical Description - Winnebago Projected
Maintenance

• Stirling Engine Design Manual, Martini, 1982

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Technical Description - Winnebago Sound Levels
Stirling Engine Design Manual, Martini, 1982
Reference Sound Levels 90 dBA Loud Orchestra,
Brass Band 80 dBA Average Orchestra, Very Loud
Radio 70 dBA Group Conversation 60 dBA Normal
Conversation 50 dBA Softly Spoken Words 40 dBA
Faint Speech Handbook of Modern Electronic
Data, Mandl, 1973
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Technical Description - Versatility

• Heat Engine - Forward Rotation
• Cold Engine - Reverse Rotation
• Refrigerator - Forward Rotation
• Heat Pump - Reverse Rotation

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Gallery of Stirling Engines
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Stirling Engine - Ole Berge at Lake Itasca
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Stirling Engine - Bosch/Tibert Engine
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Stirling Engine - Bosch/Tibert Engine
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Stirling Engine - Bremen

• Gamma Type

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Stirling Engine - Some California Builders

• Alphonese Vassallo
• Jim Symanski
• Jim Tangeman

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Stirling Engine - Kirk SV-2

• 0.20 kW Elect Output
• 1200 rpm
• 40 psig He Working Fluid
• Propane Fuel

• D. Kirk, Fond du Lac, WI

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Stirling Engine - Kockum Submarine
The Stirling Alternative 1994
Walker,Reader,Fauvel,Bingham
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Stirling Engine - McConaghy Model Airplane Engine
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Stirling Engine - Photon Solar Engine

• Low Delta T
• Solar
• Up to 50 Wmech

• Stirling Machine World, B. Ross, JUN 93

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Stirling Engine - Ross Stove Top

• Beta Type
• 0.112 kW Mech Output
• 1150 rpm
• Atmospheric Air Working Fliud

Making Stirling Engines 1993, A. Ross
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Stirling Engine - Ross Genset
Making Stirling Engines 1993 A. Ross
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Stirling Engine - Ross D-90 Bicycle

• Making Stirling Engines 1993, A. Ross

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Stirling Engine - Ross D-90 Outboard Motor
Making Stirling Engines 1993, A. Ross
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Stirling Engine - Harald Berg Boat

• Making Stirling Engines 1993, A. Ross

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Stirling Engine - SAIC/STM Solar
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Stirling Engine - Senft Low Delta T

• Gamma Type
• Low Temp Difference - as low as 0.5 C deg

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Stirling Engine - Steele 4 Cylinder

• 4 Cylinder Gamma Type
• 20 Wmech w/20 psig Air
• 40 Wmech w/40 psig He
• 1800 rpm max

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Stirling Engine - Stirling Engine Society

• Salford Prior, England October 1997

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Stirling Engine - Symanski at Dream Machines Event

• Gamma Type
• 3.8 x 2.35 in Bore x Stroke
• 630 rpm
• 380 Wmech

• Rider Type
• 4 x 4 in Bore x Stroke
• 320 rpm

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Stirling Engine - Symanski Gamma

• Gamma Type
• 3.8 x 2.35 in Bore x Stroke
• 630 rpm
• 380 Wmech
• 45 psig Air

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Stirling Engine - Symanski Little Gamma

• Gamma Type
• 0.25 x 0.25
• 800 rpm

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Stirling Engine - Tangeman Boat
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Stirling Engine - Vassallo Twin

• Twin Alpha Type
• Reversible
• For RC Boat

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Stirling Engine - Vassallo Solar
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Stirling Engine - Vassallo 4 Cylinder

• 4 Cylinder Alpha
• 1200-1500 rpm

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Stirling Engine - Viebach

• Alpha Type
• 300 - 500 Wmech Output
• Beta Type
• gt417 Wmech Output Demonstrated
• 750 Wmech Expected
• 21 Efficiency

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Stirling Engine - WisperGen

• 5 kW Heat Output
• 0.75 kW Electrical Output
• Diesel or Kerosene Fuel
• 18x20x26 inch WxDxH
• 198 lb Dry Weight

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Tamin Enterprises Stirling Engines

• TESE001
• TESE002
• TESE004

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Tamin Stirling Engine - TESE001 Performance
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Tamin Stirling Engine - TESE002 With Electric
Dynamometer

• Beta Type
• 600 W Output
• _at_2200 rpm
• w/1 MPa He
• 375 W Output
• _at_2000 rpm
• w/1 MPa N2

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TESE002 Components
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TESE002 He Test Results
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TESE002 N2 Test Results
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Tamin Stirling Engine - TESE002 w/Electric Heater

• Ease of Startup and Shutdown
• Input Power Measurement

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TESE002 as Refrigerator

• 200 K
• 1 MPa He
• Electric Motor Driven

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Tamin Stirling Engine - TESE002 Specifications
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Tamin Stirling Engine - TESE002 Performance
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Tamin Stirling Engine - TESE002 Crankcase Assembly
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Tamin Stirling Engine - TESE002 Cooler Components
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Tamin Stirling Engine - TESE002 Dynamometer
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TaminStirling Engine - TESE002 With Dynamometer
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Tamin Stirling Engine - TESE002 With Accessories

• TESE002 Simple System
• Permanent Magnet Alternator
• Vane Water Pump

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Tamin Stirling Engine - TESE004
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Tamin Stirling Engine - TESE004 Specifications
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Tamin Stirling Engine - TESE004 Performance
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Applications

• Electrical Power Generation
• Combined Heat and Power -CHP
• Hibrid Vehicles
• Watercraft
• Ultralight Aircraft

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Applications - Electrical Power Generation
General Motors GPU-3
Philips MP1002C
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Applications - Solar Water Pumping
Photon pumping engine at Eindhoven,The
Netherlands, 1993
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Applications - CHP Schematic
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Applications - CHP Energy Balance
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Applications - Ultralight Aircraft

• Advantages
• Fuel - Any fuel including jet turbine fuel.
• Power - Greater power at altitude.
• Vibration - Lower vibration and more even power.
• Reliability - Fewer moving parts and lower
  stresses.
• Safety - Lower fire danger and pilot fatigue.
• Economy - High efficiency and no oil changes.
• Quiet - Less audible noise in cockpit and on
  ground.
• Disadvantages
• Cost - High cost typical to application.
• Production volume - Low volume and high precision
  typical.
• Operation - Pilots are technically conditioned.

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Applications - Watercraft
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Close

• Contradictions
• Advantages and Disadvantages
• Future

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Close - Contradictions

• The Stirling Engine is a Simple Engine
• The Stirling Engine is not a Simple Engine

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Advantages

• Multifunction
• High Efficiency
• Simple Mechanism
• Multi fuel
• Low Emissions (Chemical, Acoustic, Electrical)
• Flat Torque Curve
• Low Lubricant Consumption

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Disadvantages

• Expensive
• Mass
• Lifetime
• Constant Speed Engine
• Other Engines

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Applications - Tangeman Tractor