Dynamic Behaviour Prediction Of Free-piston Stirling Engines

The paper presents an integrated methodology for both the design optimization and the performance evaluation of free-piston Stirling engines (FPSE) suitable for space applications. In particular, the prediction of the dynamic behaviour is the problem here considered in more detail. To this aim, a stability criterion is established, based on the assumption of a thermodynamic reference model, able to take Into account the main energy losses. In this way, it is possible to define useful "design rules" that must be observed In order to guarantee a correct behaviour of the engine. In the reported design example, such behaviour is verified by means of a previously developed code which performs a dynamic and thermo-dynamic simulation.