25kw Stirling solar generator drawing

Can a Stirling engine generate electricity at conversion efficiencies?

By demonstrating a working Stirling engine generating electricity at conversion efficiencies significantly greater than those attained by existing technologies, CEI has created the opportunity to produce cost-effective, emissions-free electric power from these low-to-medium temperature heat sources.

How efficient is a Stirling engine?

As shown in Figure 19, the gross thermal-to-electrical conversion efficiency measured for the Stirling engine is notably higher than any of the other small-scale technologies surveyed for comparable hot-side temperatures, for both maximum efficiency and maximum power operation.

How does a Stirling engine work?

The Stirling engine operates by expansion and compression of air or other gas (called the working fluid), at different temperature levels such that there is a net conversion of heat energy to mechanical work. The ThermoHeart Engine uses nitrogen as the working fluid and is driven by relatively low temperatures (150 °C-400 °C).

How efficient is a 5th generation 25kW engine?

Testing is well underway on the 5th generation 25kW units, and has demonstrated nearly 30% thermal to electric conversion efficiency at 330°C. This remarkable efficiency level is the result of a historically novel engine design, common but carefully engineered materials of construction, and high-effectiveness internal heat exchangers.

How efficient is a Stirling engine compared to a curzhon-Ahlborn engine?

At the highest Stirling engine power output test condition represented by the green line on the chart, the peak measured thermal-to-electrical efficiency is 23.8%, which is 51.5% of the Carnot limit, and which compares to the Curzhon-Ahlborn (or Chambadal-Novikov) efficiency of 26.7% .

Can a 25 kW thermoheart engine produce 20 kW?

A 25 kW ThermoHeart Engine equipped with a non-metallic film regenerator (not in the current operating prototype) and optimized for low-temperature applications is estimated to be able to produce 20 kWe at hot-side and ambient temperatures of 200 °C and -6 °C, respectively.