Design Optimization of Tubular Heat Exchangers for a Free-Piston Stirling Engine Based on Improved Quasi-Steady Flow Thermodynamic Model Predictions

Dong-Jun Kim, Yeongchae Park, Tae Young Kim and Kyuho Sim
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Dong-Jun Kim: Department of Mechanical System Design Engineering, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Seoul 01811, Korea
Yeongchae Park: Department of Mechanical System Design Engineering, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Seoul 01811, Korea
Tae Young Kim: Department of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Seoul 01811, Korea
Kyuho Sim: Department of Mechanical System Design Engineering, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Seoul 01811, Korea

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 9, 1-20

Abstract: This paper presents the design optimization of a heat exchanger for a free-piston Stirling engine (FPSE) through an improved quasi-steady flow (iQSF) model and a central composite design. To optimize the tubular hot heat exchanger (HHX) design, a design set of central composite designs for the design factors of the HHX was constructed and the brake power and efficiency were predicted through the iQSF model. The iQSF model is improved because it adds various heat and power losses based on the QSF model and applies a heat transfer model that simulates the oscillating flow condition of an actual Stirling engine. Based on experimental results from the RE-1000, an FPSE developed by Sunpower, the iQSF model significantly improves the prediction error of the indicated power from 66.9 to 24.9% compared to the existing QSF model. For design optimization of the HHX, the inner diameter and the number of tubes with the highest brake power and efficiency were determined using a regression model, and the tube length was determined using the iQSF model. Finally, the brake output and efficiency of FPSE with the optimized HHX were predicted to be 7.4 kW and 36.4%, respectively, through the iQSF analysis results.

Keywords: free-piston Stirling engine; improved quasi-steady flow model; design of experiments; heat exchanger (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: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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