Development of a Transient Model of a Stirling-Based CHP System

Carlos Ulloa, José Luis Míguez, Jacobo Porteiro, Pablo Eguía and Antón Cacabelos
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Carlos Ulloa: Defense University Center, The Naval Academy, Plaza de España 2, Marín 36920, Spain
José Luis Míguez: Industrial Engineering School, University of Vigo, Lagoas Marcosende s/n, Vigo 36310, Spain
Jacobo Porteiro: Industrial Engineering School, University of Vigo, Lagoas Marcosende s/n, Vigo 36310, Spain
Pablo Eguía: Industrial Engineering School, University of Vigo, Lagoas Marcosende s/n, Vigo 36310, Spain
Antón Cacabelos: Industrial Engineering School, University of Vigo, Lagoas Marcosende s/n, Vigo 36310, Spain

Energies, 2013, vol. 6, issue 7, 1-19

Abstract: Although the Stirling engine was invented in 1816, this heat engine still continues to be investigated due to the variety of energy sources that can be used to power it (e.g., solar energy, fossil fuels, biomass, and geothermal energy). To study the performance of these machines, it is necessary to develop and simulate models under different operating conditions. In this paper, we present a one-dimensional dynamic model based on components from Trnsys: principally, a lumped mass and a heat exchanger. The resulting model is calibrated using GenOpt. Furthermore, the obtained model can be used to simulate the machine both under steady-state operation and during a transient response. The results provided by the simulations are compared with data measured in a Stirling engine that has been subjected to different operating conditions. This comparison shows good agreement, indicating that the model is an appropriate method for transient thermal simulations. This new proposed model requires few configuration parameters and is therefore easily adaptable to a wide range of commercial models of Stirling engines. A detailed analysis of the system results reveals that the power is directly related to the difference of temperatures between the hot and cold sources during the transient and steady-state processes.

Keywords: Stirling engine; micro-cogeneration; Trnsys; optimization; lump; combined heat and power (CHP) (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: 2013
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (11)

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