https://doi.org/10.1051/epjap/2013120217
Stability analysis of free piston Stirling engines
Département Énergie, Institut FEMTO-ST UMR 6174, CNRS/Université de Franche-Comté/ENSMM/UTBM, avenue Jean Moulin, 90000 Belfort, France
a e-mail: sylvie.begot@univ-fcomte.fr
Received:
7
June
2012
Revised:
20
November
2012
Accepted:
10
January
2013
Published online:
8
March
2013
This paper presents a stability analysis of a free piston Stirling engine. The model and the detailed calculation of pressures losses are exposed. Stability of the machine is studied by the observation of the eigenvalues of the model matrix. Model validation based on the comparison with NASA experimental results is described. The influence of operational and construction parameters on performance and stability issues is exposed. The results show that most parameters that are beneficial for machine power seem to induce irregular mechanical characteristics with load, suggesting that self-sustained oscillations could be difficult to maintain and control.
© EDP Sciences, 2013
