Beta Type Stirling Engine. Schmidt and Finite Physical Dimensions Thermodynamics Methods Faced to Experiments
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entropy Article Beta Type Stirling Engine. Schmidt and Finite Physical Dimensions Thermodynamics Methods Faced to Experiments Cătălina Dobre 1 , Lavinia Grosu 2, Monica Costea 1 and Mihaela Constantin 1,* 1 Department of Engineering Thermodynamics, Engines, Thermal and Refrigeration Equipments, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Splaiul Independent, ei 313, 060042 Bucharest, Romania; [email protected] (C.D.); [email protected] (M.C.) 2 Laboratory of Energy, Mechanics and Electromagnetic, Paris West Nanterre La Défense University, 50, Rue de Sèvres, 92410 Ville d’Avray, France; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 10 September 2020; Accepted: 9 November 2020; Published: 11 November 2020 Abstract: The paper presents experimental tests and theoretical studies of a Stirling engine cycle applied to a β-type machine. The finite physical dimension thermodynamics (FPDT) method and 0D modeling by the imperfectly regenerated Schmidt model are used to develop analytical models for the Stirling engine cycle. The purpose of this study is to show that two simple models that take into account only the irreversibility due to temperature difference in the heat exchangers and imperfect regeneration are able to indicate engine behavior. The share of energy loss for each is determined using these two models as well as the experimental results of a particular engine. The energies exchanged by the working gas are expressed according to the practical parameters, which are necessary for the engineer during the entire project, namely the maximum pressure, the maximum volume, the compression ratio, the temperature of the heat sources, etc. The numerical model allows for evaluation of the energy processes according to the angle of the crankshaft (kinematic–thermodynamic coupling). The theoretical results are compared with the experimental research. The effect of the engine rotation speed on the power and efficiency of the actual operating machine is highlighted. The two methods show a similar variation in performance, although heat loss due to imperfect regeneration is evaluated differently. Keywords: imperfect regeneration; numerical model; Stirling engine; thermodynamic analysis 1. Introduction In the current energy economy context, many studies focus on renewable energy use and on the evaluation of thermal losses. Therefore, the Stirling engine draws the attention of the researchers for its many advantages, namely: strong potential of energy conversion, environmental-friendliness, quietness, and great adaptability to any type of heat source. Study of the Stirling engine presents great complexity because of the oscillatory character of the working fluid evolutions [1]. Various thermodynamic models of Stirling engine operations have already been presented in the literature, with various assumptions. The authors of [2] aimed to develop a numerical model for a beta Stirling engine with a rhombic drive mechanism. Considering the non-isothermal effects, the thermal resistance of the heating head, and the efficiency of the regenerative channel, the energy equations can be derived for the control volumes in the expansion chamber, the regenerative channel, and the compression chamber, and can then be solved. The machine presented in the literature [3] is overhauled in the presence of heat loss and internal irreversibility, Entropy 2020, 22, 1278; doi:10.3390/e22111278 www.mdpi.com/journal/entropy Entropy 2020, 22, 1278 2 of 15 but also shows irreversibility through heat transfer. The work of [4] can be considered a key paper for the literature on Stirling engines, as well as for the identification of design methodologies for a non-proprietary Stirling engine. The literature [5] comes with a practical validation of the practical computer simulation model of the combined plant proposed with the Otto and Stirling cycle by using finite time thermodynamics and the finite dimensional optimization methodology of thermodynamics. A model that includes frictional and mechanical losses is presented in the literature [6]—heat transfer inside the engine and other features such as auxiliary power consumption, and applies to both off-design and on-design operations. A technique for calculating the power and efficiency of Stirling machines is presented in [7]. To analyze this irreversible finite speed cycle, the direct integration of the equations based on the first law for finite speed processes is used to determine the direct power and efficiency of the cycle. There are three modeling levels of Stirling engines [1]. The ideal analysis (or first order analysis) predicts the ideal theoretical performances of an engine [7] with a nil or unlimited convective heat transfer coefficient [8]. The uncoupled analysis (or second order analysis) takes the results of the ideal analysis and corrects them, considering a certain number of finite coefficients and losses in the engine. The obtained results are much more realistic compared with those obtained based on the first order analysis. Some relevant research done by Cullen et al. [9], Bonnet S. et al. [10], Finkelstein [11], and Walker et al. [12] adopted this approach. The coupled analysis (or third order analysis) is based on a fine division of the engine in various control volumes, considering all of the main losses. Numerical methods have been applied to solve the equation system governing the process. It is worth noting that this model is defective because it does not properly simulate the fluid flow, particularly the turbulence, and it uses the empirical correlations to calculate the heat transfer and friction coefficients, which seem to be inadequate for obtaining accurate results. Some of the analyses at this level were developed by Chow [13], Urielli [14], Tew et al., [15], Organ [16], and Gedeon [17]. In the following sections, a finite physical dimensions thermodynamic method (FPDT; first order) and a 0D modeling (isothermal analysis) using the Schmidt model (second order) are presented. The FPDT model [18] is based on the irreversible thermodynamics approach, which is an old approach, but it has had some improvements and engineer adjustments, which were the aim of recent papers developed by Grosu et al. [19–21]. The Schmidt model is an isothermal analysis that considers the same irreversibilities as the FPDT model, and in addition to this, the kinematics of the pistons are considered. This model is effectively an old one (1871), but it is chosen as a starting point by many researchers for their models because of its simplicity and its reduced time of calculation, which represent an interesting advantage in comparison with the coupled analysis. The influence of fluid viscosity, leakage, or other types of source of losses is implicitly considered in the energetic balance scheme, even if it is not detailed in this paper. Empirical correlations could be used in the same way as C.H. Cheng and Y.J. Yu [2] and Y. Timoumi et al. [22]. This study relates to a beta type Stirling engine, comparing the experimental measurements with the analytical results of the two thermodynamic models. 2. β Type Stirling Engine A β-type Stirling engine characterized by the arrangement of the piston engine, displacer, and heat exchangers in a single cylinder of highly resilient glass was analyzed. The two pistons undergo a reciprocating alternative movement with an angle of 110◦. It can operate as an engine by using an electrical resistance located at the top of the cylinder, which constitutes the heat source. The cylinder is surrounded by a water jacket within which a water flow constitutes the cold sink. The displacer forces the passage of the gas from the bottom part to the top part of the cylinder, and vice versa. It also holds a highly conductive material that is used for the heat storage/release, thus playing the regenerator role. The studied hot air engine configuration is presented in Figure1. 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