The aim of this project was to design, build, and test a Stirling engine capable of generating between 200-500 watts of electricity. Several designs were studied before settling on an alpha type configuration based around a two-cylinder air compressor. Concentrated solar energy was considered as a potential heat source, but had to be replaced by a propane burner due to insufficient solar exposure during the testing timeframe. The heater, cooler, regenerator, flywheel and piping systems were designed, constructed, and analyzed. Instrumentation was built into the engine to record temperatures throughout the assembly. Several tests were performed on the engine in order to improve its running efficiency, and critical problem areas were isolated and addressed.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Shiferaw, Alula Teshome
• Czerniak, Shawn A.
• De La Cruz, Enrique
• Chen, Hongling
• Jackson, Gary Lee
• Stewart, Evan Reed
• Frankian, William Thomas

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-032814-103716

Advisor

• Sullivan, John M.

Year

• 2014

Date created

• 2014-03-28

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Mechanical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright