The flow through the regenerator of a Stirling engine is driven by differences of pressure in the compression and expansion spaces. These differences lead to power dissipation in the regenerator. Using linearized theory, it is shown that this dissipation severely limits the maximum attainable thermal efficiency and nondimensional power output. The maximum attainable values are independent of the value of the regenerator conductance. For optimized nondimensional power output, the thermal efficiency equals only half the Carnot value. The power dissipated in the regenerator is removed as part of the heat withdrawn at the regenerator’s cold side. Analogous results are presented for the Stirling refrigerator. At optimized nondimensional rate of refrigeration, its coefficient of performance is less than half the Carnot value.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
Technical Papers
Maximum Attainable Performance of Stirling Engines and Refrigerators
P. C. T. de Boer, Mem. ASME, Graduate School Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,
P. C. T. de Boer, Mem. ASME, Graduate School Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,
Upson Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
Search for other works by this author on:
P. C. T. de Boer, Mem. ASME, Graduate School Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,
Upson Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
Contributed by the Heat Transfer Division for publication in the JOURNAL OF HEAT TRANSFER. Manuscript received by the Heat Transfer Division August 26, 2002; revision received April 1, 2003. Associate Editor: G. P. Peterson.
J. Heat Transfer. Oct 2003, 125(5): 911-915 (5 pages)
Published Online: September 23, 2003
Article history
Received:
August 26, 2002
Revised:
April 1, 2003
Online:
September 23, 2003
Citation
de Boer, P. C. T. (September 23, 2003). "Maximum Attainable Performance of Stirling Engines and Refrigerators ." ASME. J. Heat Transfer. October 2003; 125(5): 911–915. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1597618
Download citation file:
Get Email Alerts
Cited By
External Conjugate Boiling On Channels. A Graetz Problem With Multiple Solutions
J. Heat Mass Transfer
Related Articles
Basic Limitations on the Performance of Stirling
Engines
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power (January,2007)
Adiabatic Losses in Stirling Refrigerators
J. Energy Resour. Technol (June,1996)
Performance of a Novel Combined Cooling and Power Gas Turbine With Water Harvesting
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power (July,2008)
Model of TPTC Stirling Engine With Adiabatic Working Spaces
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power (October,1988)
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Chapters
Completing the Picture
Air Engines: The History, Science, and Reality of the Perfect Engine
The Stirling Engine
Air Engines: The History, Science, and Reality of the Perfect Engine
Later Single-Cylinder Engines
Air Engines: The History, Science, and Reality of the Perfect Engine