Motores

Performance Analysis of a Stirling
Engine Fuelled by Diesel and Ethanol
and Transition to Bio-oil
BY
Charles Habbaky
and
Adrian Boangiu

A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment
of the requirements for the degree of
BACHELOR OF APPLIED SCIENCE

Supervisor: Prof. M.Thomson
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

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Abstract
Performance Analysis of a StirlingEngine Fuelled by Diesel and Ethanol and Transition
to Bio-oil

Charles Habbaky and Adrian Boangiu

Bachelor of Applied Science
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
University of Toronto
2009

The objective of this thesis was to run a comparative stud y of the performance of a
Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Stirling engine fuelled by diesel and ethanol to provethe success of the engine with an alternate fuel and to support the transition to the use of
bio-oil. Data was collected regarding fuel consumption, air flow rate, equivalence ratio
in each case. Flame Ionization Detector (FID) tests were done to measure the amount of
unburned hydrocarbons. An efficiency analysis was also done by comparing the
electrical and thermal heat recovered fromthe fuel energy input. Significant parameters
and problems were identified and the engine was able to run successfully proving fuel
modularity. An extension to the burner was designed for the use of bio-oil on the Stirling
engine given its combustion properties.

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Acknowledgements
Special thanks go to Professor M. Thomson who gave us the opportunity to work
in his lab and whooffered valuable guidance in times of need. This also wouldn’t have
been possible without the help of Nicolas Farra and Tom Tzanetakis, whose
encouragement and advice was well valued, whose knowledge was of great help, and
their presence in the lab with us was greatly appreciated. The authors are grateful for all
the experiences in lab MC413, despite the hardships and challenges we facedand the fact
that there are 3 chairs for 4 people. We are also very thankful to our respective families,
girlfriends, and friends for their support, which is always needed and always of great
comfort.
Charles Habbaky
Adrian Boangiu

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Table of Contents
Abstract............................................................................................................................................ ii
Acknowledgements......................................................................................................................... iii
List of Symbols ................................................................................................................................ vi
List of Figures................................................................................................................................. vii
List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. viii
1

Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 1
1.1
1.2

2The Need for Alternative Fuels (Boangiu) ........................................................................ 1
Research Objectives (Boangiu) ........................................................................................ 2

Background (Boangiu) .............................................................................................................. 3
2.1

StirlingEngine .................................................................................................................. 3

2.1.1

Stirling Thermodynamic Cycle (Boangiu) ................................................................. 3

2.1.2

The WhisperGen Stirling Engine (Boangiu) .............................................................. 5

2.2

Fuels of Operation...