Development and Performance Evaluation of a Cam-Driven Stirling Engine with Optimised Piston Motion
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37253/combines.v6i1.12785Abstract
The growing demand for sustainable energy conversion technologies has renewed interest in Stirling engines, although their practical efficiency remains limited by heat transfer irreversibilities and mechanical losses. This study investigates the effects of piston motion profiles on the performance of a gamma-type Stirling engine using a novel cam-driven mechanism. An experimental approach was employed to evaluate four motion profiles: theoretical, sinusoidal, rise-dwell-fall-dwell (RDFD), and hybrid. The engine was tested with a heat input of 350 W and a cold-side temperature maintained at 40 °C. Pressure, cam angle, and component displacement were recorded under steady-state conditions to determine indicated power and thermal efficiency. The results showed that the hybrid motion profile achieved the highest indicated power of 0.655 W and an indicated thermal efficiency of 18.66 × 10⁻²%, outperforming the RDFD, sinusoidal, and theoretical profiles. The hybrid configuration demonstrated that combining theoretical displacer motion with sinusoidal working piston motion could improve energy conversion performance. The novelty of this study lies in the experimental implementation of a cam-driven system that enables precise control and systematic evaluation of different motion profiles. However, overall power output remained limited by gas leakage, inadequate sealing, and atmospheric-pressure operation. Future research should focus on improving manufacturing precision, increasing working gas pressure, and optimising regenerator design and materials to enhance engine performance.
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