Research Paper Example on Stirling Engine

Introduction

Stirling engine is one of the heat engines that is designed to convert the thermal energy into mechanical energy motion through cyclic expansion and compression of the air and the fluid that work in a closed thermodynamic cycle of different temperatures to realize the net energy conversion from heat energy to the mechanical motion. The Stirling engine uses the external source of heat to get the working substance heated. The source of heat can be the burning of fossil fuels, decaying plant matter, solar energy, and any other source that may be available for use. The temperature difference is all the engine requires to function. When running the engine by cooling one region of the engine below the cabinet temperature variations, the gas inside the cylinder of the Stirling engine remains unburned or consumed. The Stirling engine does not need an intake or exhaust. Using an external source of heat with the Stirling engine is environmentally friendly and should be encouraged to control the pollution from the car exhaust engines.

This can be used as an alternative to the hydrocarbon emission to the atmosphere and hence reduced pollution. The Stirling engines also limit the infection caused by noise since the engine does not require intake. The Stirling engine has not been embraced so much in the past though it has popular designs like the internal combustion engine and the combustion engine. The Stirling engine has regained the interest of many developers due to the prediction of the depletion of fossil fuels. It can run different sources of fuel and at the same time can meet the theoretical ideal efficiency than the other engines used. The Stirling engines also have other names such as; hot-gas engines, hot-air engines. It is designated for and reserved for a particular arrangement of the engine. The development of the Stirling engine has continued from the 19th century to the time.

There are three types of sterling engines and these comprise the Alpha Sterling Engine, Beta Sterling Engine, and the Gama Sterling Engine. The Alpha Sterling engine primarily has two connected pistons with heads that are sealed. The high-temperature heat exchanger is integrated into a single piston. Additionally, the cold heat exchanger is attached to the other cylinder. In the case of the Beta, this type has a single-cylinder composed of two pistons and hot and cold heat exchangers. It also consists of the power piston that tightly fits and changes the cylinder volume. Moreover, the displacer piston is loosely fitted and moves the gas from the hot end to the cold end. Finally, the Gama sterling engine demonstrates some kind of similarity to the Alpha engine but it has two cylinders with one for the displacer and the other one for the power station. This type of engine usually has a lower rate of compression than the beta engine. However, it can be easily built as the connecting rods for the pistons do not exist at the same pot.