Structural and Thermal Analysis of Infinia Corporation Stirling Convertors

Free-piston Stirling machines offer high efficiency, long life, quiet operation and long durability. They are the primary candidates for micro-CHP (combined heat and power) and remote power markets. They are also potential candidates for future deep space missions. To ensure the long durability of the Stirling engines, Infinia has worked with NASA Glenn Research Center and Allied Signal to develop a comprehensive set of FEA design criteria and standards. The design standard Infinia is using is ASME pressure vessel design-code compliant. It also combines the material testing results, as well as other aerospace companies’ past practical experiences. This paper describes the detailed FEA analysis process at Infinia for Stirling pressure vessel and component design. This paper also illustrates the path to achieving long durability without sacrificing the system efficiency.