Development Of Small-scale Stirling Engine Heat Pump System

Osaka Gas Co. and Mitsubishi Electric Corp. have set up the joint development of a small-scall Stirling engine heat pump system as the four year project, from 1988 through 1991. The development is assisted by Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI). Mitsubishi Electric Corp. takes the part of the design and manufacturing of Stirling engine and SEHP system. Osaka Gas Co. takes the part of its operational test and evaluization. In 1988, the first prototype model (OM88S) was manufactured. In 1989 one unit of OM88S w operated for one year, and parallel to the operational test of OM88S, the first field model (OM89S) operated from 1990 through 1991, for two years. The paper describes the operational experience for OX88S and the design features of OM89S and its Stirling engine.