Parametric investigation on a Gamma type Stirling engine efficiency coupled to Linear Fresnel Solar Collector

Abstract

The efficiency of a Gamma type Stirling engine coupled to Linear Fresnel Solar Collector, through the medium of an under vacuum trapezoidal receiver, was studied in this paper. Seven parameters were inspected to study each one’s effect on the Stirling engine efficiency to obtain the optimum dimensions. A Monte Carlo ray tracing approach was utilized for optics and energy behavior simulation, after that Mathematica 9.0 was employed to find the heat flux density distribution in absorber tubes. Thermodynamic equations were used to calculate outlet temperature and global heat flux of absorber tubes. Finally, Prosa 2.0.4 was employed for evaluation of the Stirling engine performance. The influence of gap between Linear Fresnel Reflectors, absorber tubes diameter, gap between absorber tubes, their location according to cavity depth and receiver mounting latitude depending on width occupied by Linear Fresnel Reflectors are inspected.