Determination of the Optimum Configuration for a Stirling Engine

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Abstract
Stirling engines can be classified into three different configurations which operate, in the ideal case, on a regenerative cycle having an efficiency equal to the Carnot cycle. Expressions are derived for the work done per cycle for each configuration. A basis for comparing different engines is suggested which takes into account the total swept volume of the machine and the maximum cycle pressure. This is a dimensionless quantity referred to as the power parameter. Several thousand different values of this quantity have been calculated for a range of all the variables with the aid of an electronic computer. This has enabled the optimum proportions for engines of each configuration to be determined. The results are presented in the form of a chart. It is found that according to the method of comparison used one configuration is superior to the others.

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