INFLUENCE OF REGENERATOR PISTON DENSITY OF A GAMMA STIRLING ENGINE ON THE THERMIC EFFICIENCY OF A LOW COST PROTOTYPE

Abstract

Stirling engines are thermal machines developed with the objective of generating power and energy. The main studies currently on these engines focus on the use of renewable, clean energy or reaffirm the energy source of heat sources for their operation. However, Stirling engines can also be used for other applications. In the present work, the construction of a low-cost prototype of a gamma type Stirling engine was carried out, which can test its functioning and relate mechanical and thermodynamic properties. Adopt a test procedure and observe a relationship between the density of the regenerator and the energy efficiency, to define an optimum point between these two quantities. For the conditions tested in the present work, he concluded that the piston density of 62.45 kg / m³ allowed the engine to obtain or obtain the best performance.