What is the Stirling cycle?

Stirling cycle is a type of regenerative thermodynamic cycle that is able to use a separate working fluid and an inner component for heat exchange, either convert heat to mechanical movement or vice versa. As a result, the Stirling cycle is useful in engines, heat pumps, cooling and many other applications. Many different engine design uses stirling cycle, most of which contain one or two cylinders. Regardless of a particular design, the engine that uses this cycle, four steps of compression, the addition of heat, expansion and heat removal.

There are a number of different external internal combustion engines, each using a different type of thermodynamic cycle. Steam engines work under the principles of Rankin cycle, which uses working fluid, such as water, in liquids and gaseous conditions. Other fluids must be added from time to time, reducing the efficiency of these systems. Thestirling cycle that was originally invented in 1816 as an opponent for the Rankine cycleThe work fluid that is sealed in the system. In most cases, the working fluid is used in stirling engines air.

The basic idea of ​​a stirling cycle revolves around the heating and subsequent cooling of the only volume of working fluid. This causes the thermal expansion and the contraction of the fluid that can be used to perform mechanical work. In most cases, this is achieved by connecting the pistons to the flywheel. As the fluid in the system expands and contrasts, the pistons are driven up and down, causing the insertion to turn. The Stirling cycle is referred to as the regenerative cycle due to the fact that the fluid is separately contained and the same volume of fluid is used both in the compression chamber and in the expansion chamber.

The use of the Stirling cycle is not limited by engines, as the process is also reversible. This means that it is possible for a device that uses this cycle as tan epic pump if mechanical power is supplied. In this case, the piston control is used by an external mechanical force that pumps working fluid between the expansion chamber and the compression chamber. Depending on the method of setting the device, this reversal of the cycle can be used in the heat pump, cooling device or any other application that requires the transfer of thermal energy.