Design and development of Solar Stirling Engine for power generation

Abstract

Solar energy reaching earth's surface has small intensity of about 5-7.5KW-h/m2. Hence for any worthwhile application, sufficient solar energy should be collected with a help of solar collectors. This paper provides a study on the configuration of solar Stirling engine and analyzes the performance of using a parabolic reflector as a heat source. The parabolic reflector functions due to the geometric properties of the paraboloidal shape, any incoming ray that is parallel to the axis of the dish will be focused at a point. The key principle of a Stirling engine is that a fixed amount of a gas is sealed inside the engine. The Stirling cycle involves a series of events that change the pressure of the gas inside the engine, causing it to do work. The engine design should be that of a gamma-configuration, double acting, vertical Stirling engine. The assembly consists of a gamma sterling engine and a parabolic reflector placed on a vertical stand along with a convex lens and a tachogenerator. The study is exposed further with considerations of designing parameters involved in fabrication of the components of the system. The drafting and modeling of different parts or components of the assembly is done with the help of Solid edge.