Stirling engine

This transparent engine is used for the quantitative analysis of the Stirling cycle: as a thermal engine, as a thermal pump, and as a refrigeration machine.

The cylinder and the displacement piston are made of heat-resistant glass, the working cylinder, the flywheel, and the gear protections are made of acrylic glass. Thus, the different movements can be very well observed at any time. The hardened steel crankshafts are mounted on bearings. The connecting rods are made of durable plastic. It also includes an adjustable wick alcohol burner for heat input.

The displacement cylinder includes supports for temperature measurement in the glass, in front of and behind the piston, allowing the measurement of temperature differences when operating as a thermal pump or as a refrigeration machine. The large acrylic glass wheel with engraved marks allows the measurement of rotations per unit of time with a photoelectric cell. To plot pV diagrams, the pressure in the working cylinder can be measured through a pipe connection port. To determine volume, simply attach a wire to the working piston to measure its stroke.

The integrated unit of the engine/generator, with a two-stage pulley, transforms the mechanical energy generated into electrical energy. It can be switched to operate an integrated lamp as well as external loads or supply electrical energy for use as a thermal pump or refrigeration machine, depending on the direction of the Stirling engine's rotation.

The objective of this lab is to highlight the actual Stirling cycle. Pressure, volume, and temperature acquisition are automatic thanks to the Foxy® interface and the PV Stirling sensor developed by Jeulin.

The device allows tracing the Stirling cycle in Clapeyron coordinates (pV diagram), thus analyzing the cycle qualitatively and quantitatively.

Using the Scientific Workshop Sup ref 000131, it is possible to determine the area under each portion of the cycle curve and calculate the net work.

Pressure measurement is done in real time using a pressure gauge connected to an orifice on the working piston cylinder. Volume is measured with a Hall effect sensor placed on the flywheel and with a PV Stirling sensor developed specifically by Jeulin.

Jeulin Exclusive:

After obtaining the Clapeyron diagram in the graphic tab of the Superior Scientific Workshop software ref. 000131, it is possible, thanks to the integrated tools in the software, to easily determine the area under the curve (integral) to obtain the value of the net work exchanged during a cycle.

Temperature can also be measured at the cold and hot sources directly on the cylinder. All these measurements are made with high acquisition speed and great reproducibility over time.