An innovative integrated Swiss-roll-combustor/Stirling-hot-end component is proposed in this paper. A power generation system in conjunction with a Stirling engine is also built around the component and tested. The Stirling engine is a compact-size, unpressurized, γ-type engine that uses air as working gas. The Swiss-roll combustor is laden with small catalytic beads to decrease the ignition temperature and improve combustion efficiency. Experiments respectively burning dimethyl ether and syngas were conducted to better understand the potential of the system on tapping into green biomass energy. The marriage between the Swiss-roll combustor and the Stirling engine’s hot end offers many advantages as follows: The structural support from the spiral-channel wall in the Swiss-roll combustor enables the bottom wall of the Stirling engine to be made very thin, which improves the rate of heat transfer from the heat source to the engine significantly. Meanwhile, the system inherits those advantageous features in combustion from the Swiss-roll combustor, including a broader range of fuel/air ratio, higher combustion efficiency, and higher efficiency in harvesting the heat of flue gas. Compared to the predecessor of the present engine, the incorporation of the proposed component is proven to improve engine’s performance remarkably. In the experiment of burning dimethyl ether, the system produced 18.7 W of electric power and achieved 2.4% thermal to electric efficiency under a temperature difference of 254 °C. Such performance is remarkable among atmospheric-pressure Stirling engines. The proposed component has accomplished its design goal and would hopefully inspire new ideas for the development of green-energy Stirling-engine power generation systems in the future.

本文提出了一种创新的集成瑞士卷燃烧器/斯特林热端组件。与斯特林发动机结合的发电系统也围绕该组件构建并进行了测试。斯特林发动机是一种小型、无压、γ型发动机，以空气为工作气体。瑞士卷燃烧器装有小催化珠，以降低着火温度并提高燃烧效率。分别进行了燃烧二甲醚和合成气的实验，以更好地了解该系统在开发绿色生物质能源方面的潜力。Swiss-roll 燃烧器和斯特林发动机热端的结合提供了以下许多优点： 来自 Swiss-roll 燃烧器中螺旋通道壁的结构支撑使斯特林发动机的底壁做得非常薄，这显着提高了从热源到发动机的热传递率。同时，该系统继承了瑞士卷式燃烧器在燃烧方面的优势，包括更宽的燃料/空气比范围，更高的燃烧效率和更高的烟气热量收集效率。与本发动机的前身相比，所提议的部件的结合被证明可以显着提高发动机的性能。在燃烧二甲醚的实验中，该系统在 254°C 的温差下产生了 18.7 W 的电能，实现了 2.4% 的热电效率。这种性能在常压斯特林发动机中非常显着。拟议的组件已完成其设计目标，有望为未来绿色能源斯特林发动机发电系统的开发激发新的思路。事实证明，所提议的组件的加入可以显着提高发动机的性能。在燃烧二甲醚的实验中，该系统在 254°C 的温差下产生了 18.7 W 的电能，实现了 2.4% 的热电效率。这种性能在常压斯特林发动机中非常显着。拟议的组件已完成其设计目标，有望为未来绿色能源斯特林发动机发电系统的开发激发新的思路。事实证明，所提议的组件的加入可以显着提高发动机的性能。在燃烧二甲醚的实验中，该系统在 254°C 的温差下产生了 18.7 W 的电能，实现了 2.4% 的热电效率。这种性能在常压斯特林发动机中非常显着。拟议的组件已完成其设计目标，有望为未来绿色能源斯特林发动机发电系统的开发激发新的思路。