Title: Energetic and exergetic investigations of an innovative heat recovery exhaust system using a double acting type Stirling engine based on theoretical analysis

Authors: Houda Hachem; Ramla Gheith; Fethi Aloui; Sébastien Delprat; Sébastien Paganelli

Addresses: École Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Monastir, Laboratoire LESTE, Université de Monastir, Avenue Ibn El Jazzar 5019 Monastir, Tunisia ' École Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Monastir, Laboratoire LESTE, Université de Monastir, Avenue Ibn El Jazzar 5019 Monastir, Tunisia ' LAMIH CNRS UMR 8201, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Polytechnic University Hauts-de-France, Campus Mont Houy, F-59313 Valenciennes Cedex 9, France ' LAMIH CNRS UMR 8201, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Polytechnic University Hauts-de-France, Campus Mont Houy, F-59313 Valenciennes Cedex 9, France ' LAMIH CNRS UMR 8201, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Polytechnic University Hauts-de-France, Campus Mont Houy, F-59313 Valenciennes Cedex 9, France

Abstract: This study aims to predict the feasibility and the performances of an innovative recovery system. It couples a double acting Stirling engine to the exhaust hot gas of internal combustion engines drive shaft. The behaviour of a micro-cogeneration system using Stirling engine is investigated. Referring to previous energetic analyses, exergetic model is set up in order to quantify the exergy destruction and efficiencies in each part of the recovery exhaust system. The repartition of the exergy fluxes in each part are determined and represented in Grassmann diagram. Possible solutions to improve the overall exergy efficiency of the micro-cogeneration unit were proposed. The performance of the Stirling engine was evaluated under different operating conditions. Effects of certain parameters including charge pressure, rotational speed, hot exhaust gas temperature and cooling water temperature are systematically studied. The effect of hot-side and cold-side exchange surfaces on the power and efficiency of the Stirling engine as well as on the efficiency of the global micro-cogeneration unit is investigated. The performance of the Stirling engine using three different working fluids: nitrogen N₂, helium He and hydrogen H₂ is estimated. Results can be useful for scientists and engineers to design an appropriate and efficient micro-cogeneration unit.

Keywords: micro-cogeneration system; double acting Stirling engine; exhaust gas; exergy destruction; exergy efficiency.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2019.098615

International Journal of Exergy, 2019 Vol.28 No.3, pp.273 - 300

Received: 19 May 2018
Accepted: 16 Nov 2018
Published online: 28 Mar 2019 *

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