Construção e teste de um motor stirling laboratorial

Abstract

With the high demand for energy and the high rate of atmospheric pollution, there is a need to seek alternative and renewable sources to generate energy efficiently without degrading the environment and harming life on the planet. This work aims to build a laboratory Stirling engine and carry out tests to verify its operation. The methodology adopted is based on bibliographic research on Stirling engines and also on the experimental development of a prototype. The Stirling engine is an external combustion engine that transforms thermal energy into mechanical energy from practically any heat source. There are three main types of Stirling engine: alpha, beta and gamma. Was chosen to build a gamma-type prototype due to the accessibility of materials for its construction, as well as the ease and simplicity of its manufacture. The operation tests of the prototype were carried out at the Faculty of Engineering of the Eduardo Mondlane University, as a heat source a wood briquette (sawdust) was used and the influence of the refrigerant medium for its operation was analyzed. The tests showed that the engine speed is higher the greater the temperature difference between the engine's hot and cold chambers. However, at higher temperatures in the hot chamber, there was a drop in rotation due to the low efficiency of the cooling systems used.