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Performance Evaluation of a Combined Heat and Power System with Stirling Engine for Residential Applications

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Iranian Journal of Science and Technology, Transactions of Mechanical Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A combined heating and power (CHP) system with a Stirling engine for building applications has been proposed in the present work. The use of these systems in building applications will be more common if they have significant advantages from the viewpoints of the pollution emission and operational cost in comparison with the other similar systems. The Stirling engine was modeled with consideration of different losses of its components. In addition, the effect of Stirling engine speed on efficiency, carbon dioxide emission, annual tax on carbon dioxide emissions and operational cost was analyzed. The results showed that the CHP system at low rotational speeds had better performance than other rotational speeds. Furthermore, the CHP system could achieve 900 $ reduction in annual costs of CO2 tax compared to the conventional system during operation.

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Abbreviations

A :

Cross-sectional area (m2)

A cond :

Conductive area (m2)

a :

Coefficient for finite speed thermodynamic (−)

CO2T:

Carbon dioxide tax ($)

CR:

Operational cost reduction (−)

c :

Average speed of molecules (m s−1)

c p :

Specific heat at constant pressure (Jkg−1 K−1)

c v :

Specific heat at constant volume (Jkg−1 K−1)

D :

Hydraulic diameter (m)

d d :

Diameter of displacer (m)

f :

Friction factor

fr :

Rotation frequency of engine (HZ)

G :

Working gas mass flow

h :

Convective heat transfer coefficient of gas

J :

Gap between displacer and cylinder (m)

k g :

Thermal conductivity of working gas (W m−1 K−1)

k r :

Thermal conductivity of regenerator wall (W m−1 K−1)

L d :

Displacer length (m)

L r :

Regenerator length (m)

M :

Mass of the working fluid (kg)

NTU:

Number of the transfer units (−)

n r :

Engine rotational speed (rpm)

P :

Power output (W)

Pr :

Prandtl number (−)

p :

Pressure (Pa)

Q :

Heat transfer (W)

R :

Gas constant (J kg−1 K−1)

Re :

Reynolds number (−)

S :

Displacer stroke (m)

St :

Staunton number

T :

Temperature (K)

CO2ER:

CO2 emission reduction (−)

V :

Volume (m3)

W :

Work output (J)

w :

Piston velocity (m s−1)

θ :

Crank angle (deg)

μ :

Dynamic viscosity (kg m−1 s−1)

ɛ :

Effectiveness (−)

η :

Efficiency (−)

γ :

Specific heat ratio (cp · c−1v ) (−)

ac :

Actual

adi :

Ideal adiabatic

c :

Compression space

ck :

Cooler–compression space interface

e :

Expansion space

gen :

Generator

gh :

Inside of heater

gk :

Inside of cooler

h :

Heater

he :

Heater–expansion space interface

k :

Cooler

kr :

Cooler–regenerator interface

r :

Regenerator

rh :

Regenerator–heater interface

sh :

Shuttle effect

wh :

Heater wall

wk :

Cooler wall

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood, Iran

    Mohammad Sheykhi, Mahmood Chahartaghi & Seyed Majid Hashemian

Authors
  1. Mohammad Sheykhi
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  2. Mahmood Chahartaghi
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  3. Seyed Majid Hashemian
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Correspondence to Mahmood Chahartaghi.

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Sheykhi, M., Chahartaghi, M. & Hashemian, S.M. Performance Evaluation of a Combined Heat and Power System with Stirling Engine for Residential Applications. Iran J Sci Technol Trans Mech Eng 44, 975–984 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40997-019-00303-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40997-019-00303-1

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