An Optimization of the Principal Design Parameters of Stirling Cycle Machines

A Stirling engine is a mechanism used to convert heat into power or vice versa and operates on a closed regenerative thermodynamic cycle with compression and expansion of the working fluid at different temperatures.According to the classical theory the performance of a Stirling cycle machine is a function of six independent parameters, namely:speed,pressure of the working fluid,ratio of the temperatures in the compression and expansion spaces,ratio of the swept volumes in these two spaces,phase angle by which volume variations in the expansion space lead these in the compression space,volume of the heat exchangers and regenerator.The four parameters (3)–(6) must be selected at the design stage of the machine. The paper describes the procedure and presents the results of computations carried out to establish the optimum combinations of these four parameters formaximum engine output for the machine acting as a prime mover,maximum heat lifted for the machine acting as a refrigerator,over a combined temperatu...