The myth of the high-efficiency external-combustion Stirling engine
The reported discrepancy between theory and experiment for external combustion Stirling engines is explained by the addition of thermal resistance of the combustion gasses to the standard Carnot model. In these cases, the Stirling engine ideal efficiency is not as is normally reported equal to the C...
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| Format: | Article |
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Scientific Research Publishing
2015
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| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/49016/ |
| _version_ | 1848797903395487744 |
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| author | Riley, Paul Howard |
| author_facet | Riley, Paul Howard |
| author_sort | Riley, Paul Howard |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | The reported discrepancy between theory and experiment for external combustion Stirling engines is explained by the addition of thermal resistance of the combustion gasses to the standard Carnot model. In these cases, the Stirling engine ideal efficiency is not as is normally reported equal to the Carnot cycle efficiency but is significantly lower. A new equation for ideal Stirling engine efficiency when the heat is obtained through external combustion without pre-heating the air, is presented and results for various fuels tabulated. The results show that petrol and diesel, internal combustion engines (Otto cycle) have a higher ideal efficiency than the Stirling engine. When comparing thermoacoustic engines heated by wood, efficiency should not be quoted as a percentage of the Carnot efficiency, but against a figure 48% lower than Carnot. The effect is not seen with electrically heated rigs, solar or nuclear fission heated engines. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T20:11:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | nottingham-49016 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T20:11:16Z |
| publishDate | 2015 |
| publisher | Scientific Research Publishing |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | nottingham-490162020-05-04T17:26:33Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/49016/ The myth of the high-efficiency external-combustion Stirling engine Riley, Paul Howard The reported discrepancy between theory and experiment for external combustion Stirling engines is explained by the addition of thermal resistance of the combustion gasses to the standard Carnot model. In these cases, the Stirling engine ideal efficiency is not as is normally reported equal to the Carnot cycle efficiency but is significantly lower. A new equation for ideal Stirling engine efficiency when the heat is obtained through external combustion without pre-heating the air, is presented and results for various fuels tabulated. The results show that petrol and diesel, internal combustion engines (Otto cycle) have a higher ideal efficiency than the Stirling engine. When comparing thermoacoustic engines heated by wood, efficiency should not be quoted as a percentage of the Carnot efficiency, but against a figure 48% lower than Carnot. The effect is not seen with electrically heated rigs, solar or nuclear fission heated engines. Scientific Research Publishing 2015-12-17 Article PeerReviewed Riley, Paul Howard (2015) The myth of the high-efficiency external-combustion Stirling engine. Engineering, 7 (12). pp. 789-795. ISSN 1947-394X Carnot cycle; Stirling cycle; Rankine cycle; Otto Cycle; Thermoacoustic; Heat-engine External combustion; Internal combustion; Combustion-thermal-resistance http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?paperID=62006 doi:10.4236/eng.2015.712068 doi:10.4236/eng.2015.712068 |
| spellingShingle | Carnot cycle; Stirling cycle; Rankine cycle; Otto Cycle; Thermoacoustic; Heat-engine External combustion; Internal combustion; Combustion-thermal-resistance Riley, Paul Howard The myth of the high-efficiency external-combustion Stirling engine |
| title | The myth of the high-efficiency external-combustion Stirling engine |
| title_full | The myth of the high-efficiency external-combustion Stirling engine |
| title_fullStr | The myth of the high-efficiency external-combustion Stirling engine |
| title_full_unstemmed | The myth of the high-efficiency external-combustion Stirling engine |
| title_short | The myth of the high-efficiency external-combustion Stirling engine |
| title_sort | myth of the high-efficiency external-combustion stirling engine |
| topic | Carnot cycle; Stirling cycle; Rankine cycle; Otto Cycle; Thermoacoustic; Heat-engine External combustion; Internal combustion; Combustion-thermal-resistance |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/49016/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/49016/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/49016/ |