IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v273y2023ics0360544223005789.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Transient and steady performance analysis of a free-piston Stirling generator

Author

Listed:
  • Xiao, Lei
  • Luo, Kaiqi
  • Hu, Jianying
  • Jia, Zilong
  • Chen, Geng
  • Xu, Jingyuan
  • Luo, Ercang

Abstract

Free-piston Stirling generator (FPSG) is a promising distributed power generation system with compact configuration and high efficiency. In a new perspective on thermoacoustics, this paper develops a time-domain acoustic-electrical analogy method to explore the transient and steady-state performance of a highly efficient FPSG. The method captures the main characteristics of the FPSG, simplifying the calculation thus saving time, and its effectiveness has been verified by our experiments. Transient evolutions of key parameters such as volume flow rate, oscillating pressure and voltage, are first given, followed by an investigation of the acoustic field distribution. Subsequently, a performance analysis of the system is carried out. The results indicate that an increase in the damping coefficient leads to a deterioration in performance, particularly for the displacer. Operating parameters have strong influences on system performance: lower ambient temperature, higher heating temperature and larger external electric resistance contribute to higher pressure ratio and electric power, while excellent performance can be achieved at medium mean pressure. A maximum thermal-to-electric efficiency of 45.2% and a highest exergy efficiency of 68.0% are obtained at an electric resistance of 57.5 Ω and a heating temperature of 600 °C, accompanied by an electric power of 1517 W, which implies that the proposed FPSG has great promise in the field of kilowatt-scale distributed power generation. This paper provides a new viewpoint and an effective way for the rapid simulation of free-piston Stirling generator.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiao, Lei & Luo, Kaiqi & Hu, Jianying & Jia, Zilong & Chen, Geng & Xu, Jingyuan & Luo, Ercang, 2023. "Transient and steady performance analysis of a free-piston Stirling generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 273(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:273:y:2023:i:c:s0360544223005789
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2023.127184
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544223005789
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2023.127184?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Karabulut, Halit & Okur, Melih & Halis, Serdar & Altin, Murat, 2019. "Thermodynamic, dynamic and flow friction analysis of a Stirling engine with Scotch yoke piston driving mechanism," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 169-181.
    2. Chen, Pengfan & Zhong, Geyu & Niu, Yafeng & Liu, Yingwen, 2022. "Performance optimization of a free piston stirling engine using multi-section regenerators based on the response surface methodology," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(PB).
    3. Kisha, Wigdan & Riley, Paul & McKechnie, Jon & Hann, David, 2021. "Asymmetrically heated multi-stage travelling-wave thermoacoustic electricity generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C).
    4. Li, Ruijie & Grosu, Lavinia & Li, Wei, 2017. "New polytropic model to predict the performance of beta and gamma type Stirling engine," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 62-76.
    5. Altin, Murat & Okur, Melih & Ipci, Duygu & Halis, Serdar & Karabulut, Halit, 2018. "Thermodynamic and dynamic analysis of an alpha type Stirling engine with Scotch Yoke mechanism," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 855-865.
    6. Bi, Tianjiao & Wu, Zhanghua & Zhang, Limin & Yu, Guoyao & Luo, Ercang & Dai, Wei, 2017. "Development of a 5kW traveling-wave thermoacoustic electric generator," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(P2), pages 1355-1361.
    7. Jiang, Zhijie & Xu, Jingyuan & Yu, Guoyao & Yang, Rui & Wu, Zhanghua & Hu, Jianying & Zhang, Limin & Luo, Ercang, 2023. "A Stirling generator with multiple bypass expansion for variable-temperature waste heat recovery," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 329(C).
    8. Zhu, Shunmin & Yu, Guoyao & Liang, Kun & Dai, Wei & Luo, Ercang, 2021. "A review of Stirling-engine-based combined heat and power technology," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 294(C).
    9. Xu, Jingyuan & Luo, Ercang & Hochgreb, Simone, 2020. "Study on a heat-driven thermoacoustic refrigerator for low-grade heat recovery," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 271(C).
    10. Xu, Jingyuan & Hu, Jianying & Luo, Ercang & Hu, Jiangfeng & Zhang, Limin & Hochgreb, Simone, 2022. "Numerical study on a heat-driven piston-coupled multi-stage thermoacoustic-Stirling cooler," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 305(C).
    11. Chen, Geng & Tang, Lihua & Mace, Brian & Yu, Zhibin, 2021. "Multi-physics coupling in thermoacoustic devices: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    12. Zhu, Shunmin & Yu, Guoyao & O, Jongmin & Xu, Tao & Wu, Zhanghua & Dai, Wei & Luo, Ercang, 2018. "Modeling and experimental investigation of a free-piston Stirling engine-based micro-combined heat and power system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C), pages 522-533.
    13. Wang, Kai & Sanders, Seth R. & Dubey, Swapnil & Choo, Fook Hoong & Duan, Fei, 2016. "Stirling cycle engines for recovering low and moderate temperature heat: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 89-108.
    14. Xiao, Lei & Luo, Kaiqi & Zhao, Dan & Chen, Geng & Bi, Tianjiao & Xu, Jingyuan & Luo, Ercang, 2023. "Time-domain acoustic-electrical analogy investigation on a high-power traveling-wave thermoacoustic electric generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PE).
    15. Wang, Kai & Dubey, Swapnil & Choo, Fook Hoong & Duan, Fei, 2016. "A transient one-dimensional numerical model for kinetic Stirling engine," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 775-790.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Xiao, Lei & Wu, Zhanghua & Zhu, Qilu & Jia, Zilong & Zhao, Dong & Hu, Jianying & Zhu, Shunmin & Luo, Ercang, 2023. "Dynamic response of a dual-opposed free-piston Stirling generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 284(C).
    2. Xiao, Lei & Luo, Kaiqi & Zhao, Dong & Wu, Zhanghua & Xu, Jingyuan & Luo, Ercang, 2024. "A highly efficient heat-driven thermoacoustic cooling system: Detailed study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 293(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Xiao, Lei & Wu, Zhanghua & Zhu, Qilu & Jia, Zilong & Zhao, Dong & Hu, Jianying & Zhu, Shunmin & Luo, Ercang, 2023. "Dynamic response of a dual-opposed free-piston Stirling generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 284(C).
    2. Xiao, Lei & Luo, Kaiqi & Chi, Jiaxin & Chen, Geng & Wu, Zhanghua & Luo, Ercang & Xu, Jingyuan, 2023. "Study on a direct-coupling thermoacoustic refrigerator using time-domain acoustic-electrical analogy method," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 339(C).
    3. Xiao, Lei & Luo, Kaiqi & Zhao, Dan & Chen, Geng & Bi, Tianjiao & Xu, Jingyuan & Luo, Ercang, 2023. "Time-domain acoustic-electrical analogy investigation on a high-power traveling-wave thermoacoustic electric generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PE).
    4. Qiu, Hao & Wang, Kai & Yu, Peifeng & Ni, Mingjiang & Xiao, Gang, 2021. "A third-order numerical model and transient characterization of a β-type Stirling engine," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).
    5. Masoumi, A.P. & Tavakolpour-Saleh, A.R., 2020. "Experimental assessment of damping and heat transfer coefficients in an active free piston Stirling engine using genetic algorithm," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    6. Marcin Wołowicz & Piotr Kolasiński & Krzysztof Badyda, 2021. "Modern Small and Microcogeneration Systems—A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-47, February.
    7. Jiang, Chao & Zhu, Shunmin & Yu, Guoyao & Luo, Ercang & Li, Ke, 2022. "Numerical and experimental investigations on a regenerative static thermomagnetic generator for low-grade thermal energy recovery," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 311(C).
    8. Karabulut, Halit & Okur, Melih & Halis, Serdar & Altin, Murat, 2019. "Thermodynamic, dynamic and flow friction analysis of a Stirling engine with Scotch yoke piston driving mechanism," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 169-181.
    9. Yang, Rui & Meir, Avishai & Ramon, Guy Z., 2022. "A standing-wave, phase-change thermoacoustic engine: Experiments and model projections," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    10. Hu, Yiwei & Luo, Kaiqi & Zhao, Dan & Chi, Jiaxin & Chen, Geng & Chen, Yuanhang & Luo, Ercang & Xu, Jingyuan, 2024. "Thermoacoustic micro-CHP system for low-grade thermal energy utilization in residential buildings," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 298(C).
    11. Sun, Haojie & Yu, Guoyao & Dai, Wei & Zhang, Limin & Luo, Ercang, 2022. "Dynamic and thermodynamic characterization of a resonance tube-coupled free-piston Stirling engine-based combined cooling and power system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 322(C).
    12. Cheng, Chin-Hsiang & Yang, Hang-Suin & Tan, Yi-Han, 2022. "Theoretical model of a α-type four-cylinder double-acting stirling engine based on energy method," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(PA).
    13. Xiao, Gang & Qiu, Hao & Wang, Kai & Wang, Jintao, 2021. "Working mechanism and characteristics of gas parcels in the Stirling cycle," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    14. Xu, Jingyuan & Hu, Jianying & Luo, Ercang & Hu, Jiangfeng & Zhang, Limin & Hochgreb, Simone, 2022. "Numerical study on a heat-driven piston-coupled multi-stage thermoacoustic-Stirling cooler," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 305(C).
    15. Yu, Minjie & Xu, Lei & Cui, Haichuan & Liu, Zhichun & Liu, Wei, 2024. "Characteristics and potential of a novel inclined-flow stirling regenerator constructed by sinusoidal corrugated channels," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 288(C).
    16. Ahmed, Fawad & Zhu, Shunmin & Yu, Guoyao & Luo, Ercang, 2022. "A potent numerical model coupled with multi-objective NSGA-II algorithm for the optimal design of Stirling engine," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 247(C).
    17. Yousefzadeh, H. & Tavakolpour-Saleh, A.R., 2021. "A novel unified dynamic-thermodynamic method for estimating damping and predicting performance of kinematic Stirling engines," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    18. Luo, Jiaqi & Zhou, Qiang & Jin, Tao, 2023. "Theoretical and experimental investigation of acoustic field adjustment of a gas-liquid standing-wave thermoacoustic engine," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    19. Xu, Jingyuan & Hu, Jianying & Sun, Yanlei & Wang, Huizhi & Wu, Zhanghua & Hu, Jiangfeng & Hochgreb, Simone & Luo, Ercang, 2020. "A cascade-looped thermoacoustic driven cryocooler with different-diameter resonance tubes. Part Ⅱ: Experimental study and comparison," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    20. Rahmati, A. & Varedi-Koulaei, S.M. & Ahmadi, M.H. & Ahmadi, H., 2022. "Dynamic synthesis of the alpha-type stirling engine based on reducing the output velocity fluctuations using Metaheuristic algorithms," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(PB).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:273:y:2023:i:c:s0360544223005789. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.