An Analysis Model Combining Gamma-Type Stirling Engine and Power Converter

Hua-Ju Shih
Additional contact information
Hua-Ju Shih: Institute of Applied Mechanics, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 7, 1-18

Abstract: Waste heat is a potential source for powering our living environment. It can be harvested and transformed into electricity. Ohmic heat is a common type of waste heat. However, waste heat has the following limitations: wide distribution, insufficient temperature difference (Δ T < 70 K) for triggering turbines, and producing voltage below the open voltage of the battery. This paper proposes an energy harvester model that combines a gamma-type Stirling engine and variable capacitance. The energy harvester model is different from Tavakolpour-Saleh’s free-piston-type engine [7.1 W at Δ T = 407 K (273–680 K)]. The gamma-type Stirling engine is a low-temperature-difference engine. It can be triggered by a minimum Δ T value of 12 K (293–305 K). The triggering force in the variable capacitance is almost zero. Furthermore, the gamma-type Stirling engine is suitable for harvesting waste heat at room temperature. This study indicates that 21 mW of energy can be produced at Δ T = 30 K (293–323 K) for a bias voltage of 70 V and volume of 103.25 cc. Because of the given bias voltage, the energy harvester can break through the open voltage of the battery to achieve energy storage at a low temperature difference.

Keywords: gamma-type Stirling engine; energy harvester; variable capacitance; low-temperature difference engine (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/7/1322/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/7/1322/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:12:y:2019:i:7:p:1322-:d:220493

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().