Ramla Gheith, Fethi Aloui* and Sassi Ben Nasrallah
The Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology, vol. 26, no. 4, pp.1251-1255, 2012

Abstract : A gamma Stirling engine with compressed air as working fluid was investigated. This engine operates at a maximum charge pressure of 10 bar, runs at a maximum rotation speed of 600 rpm and can provide 500 W of brake power on the shaft. The engine is equipped with several pressure sensors and thermocouples. This experimental study concentrates on the regenerator constituting material (porous medium). Four different materials were investigated: stainless steel, copper, aluminum and Monel 400. The obtained experimental results provide guidance to Stirling engine enhancement and selection of the appropriate regenerator material. As a conclusion, the regenerator has an important role to enhance the heat exchange and to improve Stirling engine performance, which closely depends on its constituting material.

Keyword : Brake power; Stirling engine; Thermal capacity; Thermal conductivity; Regenerator material; Optimization