Sustainable power production

Stirling engines for biomass applications

Engine models SD4E and SD8E
Heater designed for biofuels

Water circulation for engine cooling Alternator integrated in hermetical design

Optimized Stirling cycle design with high efficiency regenerator

Low maintenance pressurised crank case with oil-free bearings

The external combustion of the Stirling engine makes it very attractive for smallscale Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants using bio-fuels. Stirling Danmark has developed a series of engines specifically designed for power production from biomass. The Stirling principle Stirling engines are based on a closed cycle, where the working gas is alternately compressed in a cold cylinder volume and expanded in a hot cylinder volume. The heat input from the combustion of fuel is transferred to the working gas through a hot heat exchanger (the heater) at a high temperature typically between 950C and 1050C. The heat drives the pistons, which drive the shaft for power production. The remaining heat is transferred to the water circulation system. Description The engine is designed as a hermetically sealed unit with the alternator incorporated in a pressurised crankcase. Only static seals are necessary between the Helium working gas in the crank case and the surrounding air. All bearings are greased and the engine is oil-free. Piston rings and piston rod have been made from PFTE-based materials for dry-running. The internal design of the engine eliminates the need for high pressure piston rod seals, which is known to give problems in most other Stirling engine designs. The four cylinder Stirling engine, SD4E, has a nominal electric power output of 35 kW. The cylinders are arranged in a square, and Helium is used

as the working gas at a mean pressure of approximately 4,5 MPa. The four heater panels form a square combustion chamber. The 8-cylinder SD8E engine rated at 75 kW is basically two 4-cylinder engines connected on the same shaft to a common alternator. The asynchronous alternator, which is also used as a starter motor, has 6 poles corresponding to an engine speed of approximately 1000 rpm when coupled directly to the power grid. The heater is designed specifically for direct combustion of biomass: Wide flue gas passages in the heater section

Careful design of flow paths through the heater Large surface area per unit heat transferred Easy cleaning access of heater panels either
manually or by shock blasts. Application The engine can run on almost any heat source which can deliver flue gases at approx. 1000C with low or no particles and ashes. Depending on the system design this could be from solid, liquid or gaseous fuels. Examples: Direct combustion of wood chips

Gasification (indirect combustion) of wood chips

and other solid biomass Pyrolysis of difficult solid biomass fuels Combustion of biogas or bio-oil. Combustion of waste products such as glycerine Add-on to large boilers on natural gas or biomass

Reliability The engine has been designed for low maintenance and long life-time. The design life of the engine is 100.000 hours with 4000/8000 hours service intervals. Research & Development The current design is based on 15 years of research and development at the Technical University of Denmark. 9 engines have been built with more than 30.000 hours of operation. Research and development is ongoing to e.g. increase efficiency and to implement new features. Engine features

Specifications Engine type No. of cylinders Bore Stroke Working gas Mean pressure Engine speed Heat output in water Electric power output Nominal elec. efficiency on gasification gas Nominal cooling water temperature SD4E 4 142 mm 76 mm Helium 4.5 MPa 1010 rpm 90 kW 35 kW 28% 55C SD8E 8 142 mm 76 mm Helium 4.5 MPa 1010 rpm 180 kW 75 kW 29% 55C

Sturdy design and hermetically sealed for long lifetime in dusty environments Oil-free mechanism with greased bearings. No risk of oil contamination of heat transfer surfaces Few movable parts Patented yoke mechanism Non-hazardous helium working gas High electrical efficiency Heater designed for biomass combustion Proven design Thousands of man-hours of research and development Competitive life-cycle cost

75 kW 8-cylinder engine

Heater for direct combustion applications

Stirling Danmark Diplomvej DTU, Building 373 South DK-2800 Lyngby Denmark

Tel: +45 45 25 93 70 Fax: +45 45 25 93 71 www.stirling.dk