Enhancing External Combustion Efficiency in Stirling Engine Combustors: Influence of Oxygen Atmosphere, Ejection Ratio, and Pressure

Abstract

Knowing the optimal operating parameters of Stirling engines is important for efficient combustion through adaptability to changed pressures and oxygen atmospheres. In this study, the optimum operating conditions for efficient combustion in a singular Stirling engine combustor at different oxygen atmospheres were investigated and determined. Numerical simulations were performed to investigate the effects of ejection ratio and pressure on combustion performance. In an oxygen/carbon dioxide atmosphere, the results show that increasing the ejection ratio substantially alters the flame distribution in the Stirling engine combustor, increasing heat transfer and external combustion efficiency. In contrast, increasing the ejection ratio reduces the average and maximum temperatures of the Stirling engine combustor. Increased pressure affects the flame distribution in the Stirling engine combustor and impedes the flow and convective heat transfer in the combustor, reducing the overall external combustion efficiency at pressures above 6.5 MPa. In an air/carbon dioxide atmosphere, an increased ejection ratio reduces the average and maximum temperatures in the Stirling engine combustor. However, the overall flame distribution does not change substantially. The external combustion efficiency tends to increase and then decrease because of two opposing factors: the increase in the convective heat transfer coefficient and the decrease in the temperature difference. Increasing pressure inhibits forced convection heat transfer in the Stirling engine combustor, reducing external combustion efficiency, which drops from 78% to 65% when pressure increases from 0.2 MPa to 0.5 MPa.

Keywords

Stirling engine combustor / Oxygen atmosphere / Ejection ratio / Pressure / External combustion efficiency

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