A review of Stirling-engine-based combined heat and power technology. (15th July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhu, Shunmin; Yu, Guoyao; Liang, Kun; Dai, Wei; Luo, Ercang
• Is Part Of: Applied energy. Volume 294(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-07-15
• Subjects: Stirling engine -- Combined heat and power -- Residential -- Techno-economic; AHX ambient heat exchanger -- AS alternative system -- CCHP combined cooling, heating, and power -- CCHT Canadian Centre for Housing Technology -- CHP combined heat and power -- CO carbon monoxide -- CO2 carbon dioxide -- CS conventional system -- FBC fluidized-bed combustor -- FPSE free-piston Stirling engine -- GHG greenhouse gas -- HHX hot heat exchanger -- ICE internal combustion engine -- IEA International Energy Agency -- KSE kinematic Stirling engine -- MGT micro gas turbine -- MRC micro Rankine cycle -- NOx nitrogen oxides -- ORC organic Rankine cycle -- PEM proton exchange membrane -- PES primary energy savings -- SE Stirling engine -- SOFC solid oxide fuel cell -- TASEG thermoacoustic Stirling engine generator; Power (Mechanics) -- Periodicals; Energy conservation -- Periodicals; Energy conversion -- Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2021.116965
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-2619

Abstract

Highlights: Stirling engine is a feasible and promising technology for cogeneration applications. The Stirling engine-based cogeneration technology is thoroughly reviewed. Challenges and future trends of Stirling engine-based cogeneration technology are discussed. Abstract: Small- and micro-scale combined heat and power (CHP) technologies offer great potential for reducing energy costs and CO2 emissions in residential and small commercial buildings. Among various CHP technologies, Stirling engines, particularly free-piston ones, show great promise in residential applications because of their remarkable advantages of low emissions, maintenance, noise, and vibration, theoretically high thermal-to-electrical efficiency, and flexibility of fuel sources. This paper presents a comprehensive review of Stirling-engine CHP in terms of different heat sources, tri-generation systems, status of commercial development, techno-economic issues, and challenges and future trends. The techno-economic assessment indicates that the relatively low on-site operational efficiencies and considerable investment costs are the main issues that hinder the further development of Stirling-engine CHP systems, and suggestions for future development are made accordingly. For successful commercial dissemination of Stirling-engine CHP, it is essential to improve the on-site electrical efficiency, reduce the capital cost of systems, and develop renewable-energy-powered and free-piston Stirling-engine-based CHP systems against the background of grid decarbonization and carbon neutrality.