Stirling Engine Technology for Parabolic Dish-Stirling System Based on Concentrating Solar Power (CSP)

Abstract

Solar energy is one of the more attractive renewable energy sources that can be used as an input energy source for heat engines. In fact, any heat energy sources can be used with the Stirling engine. Stirling engines are mechanical devices working theoretically on the Stirling cycle, or its modifications, in which compressible fluids, such as air, hydrogen, helium, nitrogen or even vapors, are used as working fluids. When comparing with the internal combustion engine, the Stirling engine offers possibility for having high efficiency engine with less exhaust emissions. However, this paper analyzes the basic background of Stirling engine and reviews its existing literature pertaining to dynamic model and control system for parabolic dish-stirling (PD) system.

Progress in research and technological advancements of commercial concentrated solar thermal power plants

“…However due to often random and uncontrollable nature of the solar irradiance, the direct illumination receivers poses a challenge in the control of the PDC solar engine. The temperature of the absorber will affect the Stirling engine efficiency, due to the limitation of the thermal rating for absorber and receiver material (Geok Pheng et al, 2015). To address this problem, the important parameter to be controlled is the absorber temperature.…”

“…The control systems maintain the maximum safe operating temperature by changing the pressure of the working fluid (Helium or Hydrogen gas), which effectively changes the rate of heat exchange between the Stirling engine and the absorber (Howard and Harley, 2010). This is considered necessary to improve the performance of the Stirling engine (Geok Pheng et al, 2015). Due to this temperature control issue, PDC systems most often operate in the controlled temperature region to maximize the efficiency of the Stirling engine (Geok Pheng et al, 2015).…”

“…This is considered necessary to improve the performance of the Stirling engine (Geok Pheng et al, 2015). Due to this temperature control issue, PDC systems most often operate in the controlled temperature region to maximize the efficiency of the Stirling engine (Geok Pheng et al, 2015). To minimize thermal rating mismatches between absorber and receiver material, indirect receivers have been introduced which heat an HTF and allow the decoupling of the solar and power subsystems.…”

Critical Concentration Ratio for Solar Thermoelectric Generators

“…1,2 Conversion methods employed on a large scale generally rely on a heating fluid which eventually drives a turbine or engine to produce electricity. [3][4][5] On the other hand, application of thermoelectricity offers an alternative approach to convert solar thermal energy to electricity. 6 The heart of these systems is a thermoelectric generator (TEG) module consisting of several thermocouples connected electrically in series and thermally in parallel.…”