Title: Exergy assessment of heat transfer inside a Beta type Stirling engine

Authors: Houda Hachem; Ramla Gheith; Fethi Aloui; Sassi Ben Nasrallah; Ibrahim Dincer

Addresses: Laboratoire d'Étude des Systèmes Thermiques et Energétiques, Université de Monastir, ENIM, Rue Ibn El Jazzar, 5019 Monastir, Tunisia ' Laboratoire d'Étude des Systèmes Thermiques et Energétiques, Université de Monastir, ENIM, Rue Ibn El Jazzar, 5019 Monastir, Tunisia ' Department of Mechanics, University of Valenciennes and Hainaut-Cambrésis (UVHC), LAMIH UMR CNRS 8201, Campus Le Mont Houy, 59313 Valenciennes Cedex 9, France ' Laboratoire d'Étude des Systèmes Thermiques et Energétiques, Université de Monastir, ENIM, Rue Ibn El Jazzar, 5019 Monastir, Tunisia ' Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), 2000 Simcoe Street North, Oshawa, Ontario L1H 7K4, Canada

Abstract: This paper presents an assessment of both energy and exergy efficiencies of a Beta Stirling engine prototype with a 30 W capacity as the maximum mechanical power output. Its operating pressure is close to atmospheric pressure, and it supports a maximum hot end temperature of 650°C. The prototype is experimented with and without thermal insulation of its two heat sources. Exergy destructions are quantified and analysed, and their causes are explained. The effects of external losses and their reduction on energy and exergy efficiencies are investigated. Furthermore, the effects of rotational speed on the performances of the engine were investigated and their relations with temperature and pressure drop are illustrated.

Keywords: Stirling engines; energy efficiency; exergy efficiency; exergy destruction; external losses; heat transfer; thermal insulation; rotational speed; engine performance; temperature; pressure drop.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2016.076863

International Journal of Exergy, 2016 Vol.20 No.2, pp.186 - 202

Received: 05 Mar 2015
Accepted: 23 Jun 2015
Published online: 04 Jun 2016 *

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