Analytical Method for Stirling Engines and Coolers.

For aiding design and improving the performance of various Stirling engines and coolers, a Stirling engine thermodynamic and mechanical analysis, SETMA, has been developed and examined. A simple SETMA, whose working space is divided into five control volumes, was developed to enable easy, accurate prediction of the performance of Stirling machines. In this paper, SETMA and fundamental equations are given in detail. Several examinations of the applicability of SETMA will be discussed, comparing the calculated and experimental results of two types of actual engines. As a result, it was found that the optimization of the heat transfer coefficients and friction-loss factors, and careful scanning of the dimensions of the working space markedly improve the calculation accuracy. Concerning the thermodynamic properties referred by SETMA, it was clarified that the SRK equation of state is more suitable than the ideal-gas equation in the case of analyzing higher-pressure-charged Stirling machines.