Stirling engine design methodology with advanced optimization models

Worldwide attempts are being made to reduce pollution and alleviate energy scarcity. Recent interest in renewable energy utilization has sparked new activities in Stirling engine development. Stirling engine has become preferable for high attention towards the use of alternate renewable energy resources like biomass and solar energy. However, only few mature Stirling engines have emerged up to the time. Stirling engine is an externally heating engine, which theoretical efficiency is as high as Carnot cycle's, but actual ones are always far below compared with the Carnot efficiency. The real performance of Stirling engine always deviates from prescribed theoretical potential. This is mainly because of complex interaction of different engine parameters, heat transfer process of oscillating flows and fluid dynamics. This book presents a detailed study about the functional performance and thermodynamics of Stirling engine with simulation and optimization models. A number of studies have been done on modeling techniques to improve the Stirling system design.