Year : 2012, Volume : 37, Issue : 1to4
First page : ( 150) Last page : ( 157)
Print ISSN : 0379-0479. Online ISSN : 2349-2120. Published online : 2012  3.

Motoring test of a stirling cycle engine system while acting as a cooler

Shendage D.J.¹, Kedare S. B.¹, Bapat S. L.¹

¹Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai-400 076

Abstract

A lot of work is done on the Stirling coolers of various configurations at IIT Bombay. This includes the development of nitrogen liquefier, with a capacity of 5–6 liter/h, as a higher capacity cooler to miniature coolers, with capacities as low as 1 W at 80 K, for IR detector cooling onboard satellite. Presently work on “Development of Stirling Engine for 1.5 kW electrical power output” is in progress with the intention of making use of the experience gained in the process. It is of Betatype with rhombic drive mechanism. This paper presents the results of a cooling system which has not been designed as a cooler but has been designed for providing power in the form of an engine. It also discusses the experience during motoring test and initial trials on Beta type Stirling engine with Rhombic drive mechanism as cooler. Initially, the Stirling cycle engine setup is tested ? by welding single tube to the cylinder head and charging at slightly higher pressure than ambient. Further, four tubes are welded to the cylinder head to provide the sufficient flow passage through heat receiving tubes, which was not case with single tube. The condensation at the top of cylinder head and around the tubes is observed in three minutes after starting, with Helium as working fluid and charging pressures of 3.1, 4 and 5 bar. The pressure ratio, which is ratio of the maximum pressure to the minimum pressure in the cycle system, is around 1.72. The system is operated without any substantial load and let some of the dimensional mismatch reduce by way of wearing out unmatched components. Then it is operated repeatedly, in this fashion so that every time the system is restarted, it should need less power. After testing and conducting trials cylinder head is inspected visually. No scratches or rubbing impressions are observed at contact the contact surfaces.

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Keywords

Stirling engine, Rhombic drive mechanism, Motoring test.

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