Design of Ericsson Heat Engine with Micro Channel Recuperator

Abstract

Stirling cycle and Rankine cycle heat engines are used to transform the heat energy of solar concentrators to mechanical and electrical energy. The Rankine cycle is used for large-scale solar power plants. The Stirling cycle can be used for small-scale solar power plants. The Stirling cycle heat engine has many advantages such as high efficiencyand long service life. However, the Stirling cycle is good for high-temperature difference. It demands the use of expensive materials. Its efficiency depends on the efficiency of the heat regenerator. The design and manufacture of a heat regenerator are not a trivial problem because the regenerator has to be placed in the internal space of the engine. It is possible to avoid this problem if we place the regenerator out of the internal engine space. To realize this idea it is necessary to develop the Ericsson cycle heat engine. We propose theoretical model and design of this engine.