SCHMIDT THEORY FOR STIRLING ENGINES KOICHI HIRATA

National Maritime Research Institute E-mail: khirata@nmri.go.jp http://www.nmri.go.jp/env/khirata/

1. INTRODUCTION The Schmidt theory is one of the isothermal calculation methods for Stirling engines. It is the most simple method and very useful during Stirling engine development. This theory is based on the isothermal expansion and compression of an ideal gas. 2. ASSUMPTION OF SCHMIDT THEORY The performance of the engine can be calculated a P-V diagram. The volume in the engine is easily calculated by using the internal geometry. When the volume, mass of the working gas and the temperature is decided, the pressure is calculated using an ideal gas method as shown in equation (1). PV = mRT (1) The engine pressure can be calculated under following assumptions: (a) There is no pressure loss in the heat exchangers and there are no internal pressure differences. (b) The expansion process and the compression process changes isothermal. (c) Conditions of the working gas are changed as an ideal gas. (d) There is a perfect regeneration. (e) The expansion dead space maintains the expansion gas temperature - TE, the compression dead space maintains the compression gas temperature - TC during the cycle. (f) The regenerator gas temperature is an average of the expansion gas temperature - TE and the compression gas temperature - TC. (g) The expansion space - VE and the compression space - VC changes according sine curves. Table 1 shows symbols used the Schmidt Theory. 3. ALPHA-TYPE STIRLING ENGINE Figure 1 shows the calculation model of Alpha-type Stirling engine. The volumes of the expansion- and compression cylinder at a given crank angle
1

are determined at first. The momental volumes is described with a crank angle x. This crank angle is defined as x=0 when the expansion piston is located the most top position (top dead point). The momental expansion volume - VE is described in equation (2) with a swept volume of the expansion piston - VSE, an expansion dead volume - VDE under the condition of assumption (g).

Fig. 1 Alpha-type Stirling Engine Table 1 Symbols

Name Engine pressure Swept volume of expansion piston or displacer piston Swept volume of compression piston or powe r piston Dead volume of expansion space Regenerator volume Dead volume of compression space Expansion space momental volume Compression space momental volume Total momental volume Total mass of working gas Gas constant Expansion space gas temperature Compression space gas temprature Regenerator space gas temperature Phase angle Temperatuer ratio Swept volume ratio Dead volume ratio Engine speed Indicated expansion energy Indicated compression energy Indicated energy Indicated expansion power Indicated compression power Indicated power Indicated efficiency Symbol P V SE V SC V DE VR V DC VE VC V m R TH TC TR dx t v X n WE WC Wi LE LC Li e Hz J J J W W W Unit Pa m3 m3 m3 m3 m3 m3 m3 m3 kg J/kgK K K K deg

VSE (1 cos x ) + VDE (2) 2 The momental compression volume - VC is found in equation (3) with a swept volume of the compression piston - VSC, a compression dead volume - VDC and a phase angle - dx. V VC = SC { cos( x dx )}+ VDC 1 (3) 2 The total momental volume is calculated in equation (4). V = VE + VR + VC (4) VE =
By the assumptions (a), (b) and (c), the total mass in the engine - m is calculated using the engine pressure - P, each temperature - T, each volume - V and the gas constant - R. PVE PVR PVC m= + + (5) RT E RT R RTC The temperature ratio - t, a swept volume ratio - v and other dead volume ratios are found using the following equations. T t= C (6) TE V v = SC (7) VSE V X DE = DE (8) VSE V X DC = DC (9) VSE
2

XR =

VR VSE

(10)

The regenerator temperature - TR is calculated in equation (11), by using the assumption (f). T + TC TR = E (11) 2 When equation (5) is changed using equation (6)-(10), the total gas mass - m is described in the next equation. P 2VR m= (tVE + + VC ) (12) RTC 1+ t Equation (12) is changed in equation (13), using equation (2) and (3). PVSE m= {S B cos( x a )} (13) 2 RTC Now;
a = tan 1 v sin dx t + cos dx 4tX R S = t + 2tX DE + + v + 2 X DC 1+ t

(14) (15)

B = t 2 + 2tv cos dx + v 2 (16) The engine pressure - P is defined as the next equation using equation (13). 2mRT C P= (17) VSE {S B cos( a )}
The mean pressure - Pmean can be calculated as follows: 2 mRTC 1 Pmean = Pdx = V S 2 B 2 2 SE (18)

c is defined in the next equation. B c= (19) S As a result, the engine pressure - P, based the mean engine pressure - Pmean is calculated in equation (20).

Pmean S 2 B 2 Pmean 1 c 2 = (20) S B cos( x a ) 1 c cos( x a) On the other hand, in the case of equation (17), when cos(x-a)=-1, the engine pressure - P becomes the minimum pressure - Pmin, the next equation is introduced. 2mRT C Pmin = (21) VSE ( S + B) P=
Therefore, the engine pressure - P, based the minimum pressure - Pmin is described in equation (22). Pmin ( S + B) Pmin (1 + c) (22) P= = S B cos( x a ) 1 c cos( x a)
3

Similarly, when cos(x-a)=1, the engine pressure - P becomes the maximum pressure - Pmax. The following equation is introduced. Pmax ( S B ) Pmax (1 c) (23) P= = S B cos( x a ) 1 c cos( x a) The P-V diagram of Alpha-type Stirling engine can be made with above equations. 4. BETA-TYPE STIRLING ENGINE Similarly, the equations for Beta-type Stirling engine are declared. Figure 2 shows a calculation model of a Beta-type Stirling engine. The expansion momental volume - VE and the compression momental volume - VC are described in the following equations, with a swept volume of a displacer piston - VSE, a swept volume of a power piston - VSC and a phase angle -dx between the displacer piston and power piston. V VE = SE (1 cos x ) + VDE (24) 2 V V VC = SE (1 + cos x) + SC { cos( x dx )} + VDC VB 1 2 2 (25) In the case of the Beta-type Stirling engine, the displacer piston and the power piston are located in the same cylinder. When both pistons overlap their stroke, an effective working space is created. The overlap volume - VB in equation (25) can be Fig. 2 Beta-type Stirling Engine calculated in the next equation.
V + VSC V + VSC VSEVSC VB = SE SE cos dx 2 4 2
2 2

(26) Then the total momental volume - V is found in equation (27). V = VE + VR + VC (27)

The engine pressure - P based the mean pressure - Pmean, the minimum pressure - Pmin and the maximum pressure - Pmax are described in the following equations like the Alpha-type Stirling engine.

Pmean 1 c 2 Pmin (1 + c) Pmax (1 c ) = = 1 c cos( x a) 1 c cos( x a ) 1 c cos( x a ) Several ratios and coefficients are defined as follows. T t= C TE V v = SC VSE P=
4

(28)

(29) (30)

VB VSE V X DE = DE VSE V X DC = DC VSE V XR = R VSE XB =

a = tan 1 v sin dx t + cos dx + 1 4tX R S = t + 2tX DE + + v + 2 X DC + 1 2 X B 1+ t

(31) (32) (33) (34) (35) (36)

B = t 2 + 2( t 1)v cos dx + v 2 2t + 1 (37) B c= (38) S The P-V diagram of Beta-type Stirling engine can be made with above equations.

5. GAMMA-TYPE STIRLING ENGINE Figure 3 shows a calculation model of a Gamma-type Stirling engine. Similar calculation equations are made as the Alpha- and Beta-type engine. The expansion momental volume - VE and the compression momental volume - VC are described in the following equations with a swept volume of a displacer piston VSE, a swept volume of a power piston - VSC and a phase angle - dx between the displacer piston and the power piston.. V VE = SE (1 cos x ) + VDE (39) 2 V V VC = SE (1 + cos x) + SC { cos( x dx )} + VDC 1 2 2 (40) The total momental volume - V is described the next equation. V = VE + VR + VC (41) The engine pressure - P based the mean pressure - Pmean, the minimum pressure Pmin and the maximum pressure - Pmax are found in the following equations.

Fig. 3 Gamma-type Stirling Engine

P=

Pmean 1 c 2 Pmin (1 + c) Pmax (1 c ) = = 1 c cos( x a) 1 c cos( x a ) 1 c cos( x a )

(42)
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Now, T t= C TE V v = SC VSE
V DE VSE V X DC = DC VSE V XR = R VSE X DE =
a = tan 1 v sin dx t + cos dx 1 4tVR S = t + 2tX DE + + v + 2 X DC + 1 1+ t

(43) (44) (45) (46) (47) (48) (49)

B = t 2 + 2( t 1)v cos dx + v 2 2t + 1 (50) B c= (51) S The P-V diagram of Gamma-type Stirling engine can be made with above equations.

6. INDICATED ENERGY, POWER AND EFFICIENCY The indicated energy (area of the P-V diagram) in the expansion and compression space can be calculated as an analytical solution with use of the above coefficients. The indicated energy in the expansion space (indicated expansion energy) - WE(J), based on the mean pressure - Pmean, the minimum pressure - Pmin and the maximum pressure - Pmax are described in the following equations. P V c sin a PminVSEc sin a 1 + c Pmax VSEc sin a 1 c W E = PdVE = mean SE = = 1 c 1+ c 1 + 1 c 2 1 + 1 c2 1+ 1c2 (52) The indicated energy in the compression space (indicated compression energy) WC(J) are described in the next equations. P V ct sin a P V ct sin a 1 + c P V ct sin a 1 c WC = PdVC = mean SE = min SE = max SE 1 c 1+ c 1 + 1 c2 1 + 1 c2 1 + 1 c2 (53) The indicated energy per one cycle of this engine - Wi(J) is demanded in the next equations. Wi = We + Wc

PmeanVSEc(1 t ) sin a 1+ 1 c2

Pmin VSEc (1 t ) sin a 1 + 1 c2

6

1+c 1c

Pmax VSEc(1 t ) sin a 1+ 1 c2

1 c 1+ c

(54)

Relations between Pmean, Pmin and Pmax are determined in the following equations. Pmin 1c = (55) Pmean 1+ c
Pmax 1+ c = Pmean 1c

(56)

The indicated expansion power - LE(W), the indicated compression power - LC(W) and the indicated power of this engine - Li(W) are defined in the following equations, using the engine speed per one second , n(rps, Hz). LE = WE n (57) LC = WC n (58) Li = Wi n (59) The indicated expansion energy - WE found equation (52) means an input heat from a heat source to the engine. The indicated compression energy - Wc calculated by equation (53) means a reject heat from the engine to cooling water or air. Then the thermal efficiency of the engine - e is calculated in the next equation. W e = i = 1 t (60) WE This efficiency equals that of a Cornot cycle that is the most highest efficiency in every thermal engine. 7. EXAMPLE OF CALCULATION EXERCISE: Make a P-V diagram and calculate the indicated power of an Alpha-type Stirling engine under following conditions. Swept volume of an expansion piston: 0.628 cm3, swept volume of a compression piston: 0.628 cm3, dead volume of the expansion space: 0.2cm3, dead volume of the compression space: 0.2cm3, regenerator volume: 0.2cm3, phase angle: 90deg, mean pressure: 101.3 kPa, expansion gas temperature: 400degC, compression gas temperature: 30degC, engine speed: 2000 rpm. A temperature ratio - t, a swept volume ratio - v and other dead volume ratio are calculated with the equation (6) - (10). 30 + 273 t= = 0.450 400 + 273 0.628 10 6 v= = 1.000 0.628 10 6 0.2 10 6 X DE = = 0.318 0.628 10 6

0.2 10 6 = 0.318 0.628 10 6 0.2 10 6 XR = = 0.318 0.628 10 6 Each coefficient is calculated with equation (14) - (16) and (19). 1 sin 90 o a = tan 1 = 65.772 o o 0.45 + cos 90 4 0.45 0.318 S = 0.45 + 2 0.45 0.318 + + 1 + 2 0.318 = 2.767 1 + 0.450 B = 0.45 2 + 2 0.45 cos + 1 = 1.097 2 1.097 c= = 0.396 2.767 Engine pressure is calculated with equation (20). When crank angle - x=0 deg: 101.3 103 1 0.396 2 P= = 101.988 10 3 ( Pa) = 101.988(kPa) 1 0.396 cos( 0 65.772) Similarly, when x=10 deg: P = 109.893( kPa) When x=20deg: P = 118.011( kPa) c Next each momental volume is calculated with equation (2) ~ (4). When crank angle, x=0 deg: 0.628 10 6 VE = (1 cos 0 o ) + 0.2 = 0.200 10 6 ( m3 ) = 0.200( cm 3 ) 2 0.628 10 6 VC = 1 cos( 0 o 90 o ) + 0.2 = 0514 10 6 ( m3 ) = 0.514(cm 3 ) 2 160 X DC =

Pressure P kPa

V = 0.2 + 0.2 + 0.514 = 0.914(cm 3 ) 120 When x=10 deg: 100 V = 0.864(cm 3 ) 80 When x=20 deg: 60 3 V = 0.826(cm ) 40 c 0.5 1.0 1.5 Repeat above calculation to one complete Volume V cm3 cycle and plot the volumes - V and pressures Fig. 4 P-V Diagram P on a graph paper. An example of the P-V diagram is shown in Fig. 4. The indicated energy is calculated with equation (52), (53) and (54).
8

140

2.0

WE =

101 .3 10 3 0. 628 10 6 3. 14 0. 396 sin 65 . 772 o

2
3

WC =

1 + 1 0. 396 6 o 101.3 10 0.628 10 3.14 0.396 0. 45 sin 65.772

1 + 1 0. 396
2
2

= 3 .760 10 2 ( J )
= 1.692 10 2 ( J )

Wi = 3.760 10

1.692 10 2 = 2.068 10 2 ( J )

The indicated power of the engines is calculated with equation (59). 5.452 10 2 2000 Li = = 0.689 (W ) 60 The indicated power of this engine is 0.689 W.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I wish to thank J. H. de Baat for many helpful suggestions during the translation of this script.

REFFERENCES 1) G. Walker., Stirling Engines, (1980),17, Oxford Univ. Press.