Design and Fabrication of Stirling Engine for Solar Power Application

Abstract

This paper showcases the designing, fabrication, and performance evaluation of 90-deg alpha-type Stirling engine. The diameters of the hot and cold cylinder are 50 mm and 44 mm, respectively, with a stroke length of 70 mm. The computer-aided design (CAD) model is developed by keeping in mind the ease of manufacturing, maintenance, bearing replacements, and lubrication. After fabrication, the engine is tested by heating the hot cylinder with air as a working fluid. The engine delivered peak power of 155 watts at the temperature of 1123 K and 968 K for hot and cold cylinders, respectively. This developed prototype can be commissioned with the solar parabolic concentrator in the future based on the smooth operation while delivering power.