The document provides an overview of the Stirling engine, including its history, working principle, components, configurations, efficiency, applications and advantages/disadvantages. It was invented in 1816 by Robert Stirling as a safer alternative to steam engines. The Stirling engine works on a closed regenerative thermodynamic cycle to convert heat into mechanical work using a fixed quantity of working fluid. Its components include a working gas, displacer/power pistons, heat exchangers and a regenerator. Common configurations are the alpha, beta and gamma types. Applications include power generation, cooling and pumping. Advantages are high efficiency and fuel flexibility, while disadvantages include cost and sealing challenges.

2. CONTENTS:
• INTRODUCTION
• HISTORY
• WHY STIRLING ENGINE?
• WORKING PRINCIPLE
• EFFICIENCY
• DIFFERENT CONFIGURATIONS
• MAIN COMPONENTS
• APPLICATIONS
• ADVANTAGES
• DISADVANTAGES
• CONCLUSIONS
• REFERENCES
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3. INTRODUCTION:
• Device that converts heat energy to mechanical power by alternately compressing
and expanding a fixed quantity of working fluid at different temperatures.
• A thermodynamic system in which the working fluid is permanently contained
within the system.
• A closed-cycle regenerative heat engine with a permanently gaseous working fluid.
• Works on Stirling cycle.
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Stirling engine

4. HISTORY
• Inventor = Robert Stirling (1790 - 1878).
• Sought to replace the steam turbines of his days due to frequent explosion caused by
unsustainable high pressure killing and injuring workers.
• Invented Stirling engine in 1816 which could not explode and produce more power than the
steam engine used that time.
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Robert Stirling
His 1816 patent application

5. WHY STIRLING ENGINE?
• Best teaching and learning device for any engineering students especially in the field of
thermodynamics.
• Unique technology.
• An innovation with hundreds of application.
• An innovation with a mission to save the earth.
• Fuel independency.
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A low temperature Stirling Engine

6. WORKING PRINCIPLE
• BASED ON STIRLING CYCLE.
• ONE SIDE OF THE ENGINE IS CONTINUOUSLY HEATED WHILE THE OTHER SIDE IS CONTINUOUSLY
COOLED.
• FIRST, THE AIR MOVES TO THE HOT SIDE, WHERE IT IS HEATED AND IT EXPANDS PUSHING UP ON A
PISTON.
• THEN THE AIR MOVES THROUGH THE REGENERATOR TO THE COLD SIDE, WHERE IT COOLS OFF AND
CONTRACTS PULLING DOWN ON THE PISTON.
• TEMPERATURE CHANGE INSIDE THE ENGINE PRODUCES THE PRESSURE CHANGE NEEDED TO PUSH ON
THE PISTON AND MAKE THE ENGINE RUN.
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Stirling cycle T~S and P~V diagram

7. CONTD…
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8. MAIN COMPONENTS
FIVE MAIN COMPONENTS…
• WORKING GAS
• DISPLACER & POWER PISTON
• HEAT EXCHANGER
• REGENERATOR
• EXPANSION/COMPRESSION MECHANISM
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9. EFFICIENCY
• Theoretically
• Stirling engine efficiency = Carnot efficiency
• Unfortunately working fluid is not ideal this causes the efficiency to be
lower than Carnot efficiency.
• In fact, Stirling engine efficiency depends on
• Temperature ratio (proportionally)
• Pressure ratio (inversely proportional)
• Specific heat ratio (inversely proportional)
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Comparison between Carnot Cycle and
Stirling Cycle

10. DIFFERENT CONFIGURATIONS
THREE MAIN CONFIGURATIONS OF STIRLING ENGINE…
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• Alpha Type • Beta type • Gamma type

11. ALPHA TYPE STIRLING ENGINE
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12. BETA TYPE STIRLING ENGINE
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13. GAMMA TYPE STIRLING ENGINE
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14. ADVANTAGES
• Various heat sources (solar, geothermal, nuclear energy, waste heat, biological etc.) can be used.
• High efficiency close to Carnot engine efficiency.
• Environmental friendly.
• Heat is external and the burning of a fuel-air mixture can be more accurately controlled.
• Operates at relatively low pressure and thus are much safer than typical steam engines.
• Less manpower needed to operate any type of commercial stirling engine.
• The technological simplicity makes it possible to have engines with a very great reliability and requiring little maintenance.
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15. DISADVANTAGES
• Its cost is probably the most important problem, it is not yet competitive with other means well established.
• The ignorance of this type of engineby the general public.
• The variety of models prevents standardization and, consequently, lower prices.
• The problems of sealingare difficult to solve as soon as one wishes to have high pressures of operation.
• The choice of “ideal” gas would be hydrogen for its lightness and its capacity to absorb the calories, but its ability to diffuse through materials is a great
disadvantage.
• Heat transfers with a gas are delicate and often require bulky apparatuses.
• The fast and effective variations of power are difficult to obtain with a stirling engine.
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16. APPLICATIONS
• Water pump stations
• Combined heat and power(CHP) plant
• Solar power generation
• Stirling cryocoolers
• Heat pump
• Marine engines
• Nuclear power
• Aircraft engines
and many more…
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Solar Power
generation field
CHP layout

17. CONTD…
• WATER PUMP STATIONS-A stirling engine used for pumping water can be
configured so that the water cools the compression space. This is most effective when
pumping cold water.
• STIRLING CRYOCOOLERS-Any stirling engine will also work in reverse as a heat
pump. When a motion is applied to the shaft, a temperature difference appears between
the reservoirs.
• NUCLEAR POWER-Replacing the steam turbines of the nuclear power plant with
stirling engine might simplify the plant, yield greater efficiency, and reduce the
radioactivity by products.
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Stirling Cyrocooler
A Water Pump Station
Nuclear Reactor-schematic

18. CONCLUSIONS
• Compatibility with alternative and renewable energy sources has become increasingly significant as the price of conventionalfuels rises.
• Currently exciting interest as the core component of micro combined heat and power (CHP) units , in which it is more efficient and safer than a
comparable steam engine.
• Need to make popular.
• Highly efficient engine.
• Engine for the future.
• Substantial reduction of CO & HC emissions.
• Environment friendly.
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19. REFERENCES
• http://www.stirlingbuilder.com/survey/survey-results
• http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/report/new-alliance-could-make-cable-a-catalyst-for-cleaner-power/364?tag=search-river
• http://www.dekaresearch.com/stirling.shtml
• http://web.archive.org/web/20080801212651/http://www.lanl.gov/mst/engine/
• Y.A. CENGEL & M.A. BOLES, THERMODYNAMICS-AN ENGINEERING APPROACH, 4TH ED.
• STIRLING ENGINES", G. WALKER (1980), CLARENDEN PRESS, OXFORD
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