Optimal design of the sealing mechanism in the piston-cylinder pair of Stirling refrigerators is beneficial in terms of system's cost, reliability, efficiency and cooling capacity; yet this is often overlooked in the literature. We report on our experimental study of a high-tolerance lubricated piston-cylinder pair with cast iron-steel materials as an integral part of the Ross-yoke alpha-type Stirling refrigerator. We measured: the gas leakage rate through the sealing gap; the friction force in the piston-cylinder pair; and the refrigerator temperature during operation. Our results show that owing to careful design, the loss of the ideal cooling capacity due to gas leakages amounted to 2.2%, and that the friction loss to the ideal cycle power input was 8.1%. We also discuss which type of lubricants demonstrates a higher resistance to operational loading and what engineering problems must be solved for reliable operation of the sealing mechanism.
Experimental study of a high-tolerance piston-cylinder pair in the alpha Ross-yoke Stirling refrigerator
Bischi A.;
2019-01-01
Abstract
Optimal design of the sealing mechanism in the piston-cylinder pair of Stirling refrigerators is beneficial in terms of system's cost, reliability, efficiency and cooling capacity; yet this is often overlooked in the literature. We report on our experimental study of a high-tolerance lubricated piston-cylinder pair with cast iron-steel materials as an integral part of the Ross-yoke alpha-type Stirling refrigerator. We measured: the gas leakage rate through the sealing gap; the friction force in the piston-cylinder pair; and the refrigerator temperature during operation. Our results show that owing to careful design, the loss of the ideal cooling capacity due to gas leakages amounted to 2.2%, and that the friction loss to the ideal cycle power input was 8.1%. We also discuss which type of lubricants demonstrates a higher resistance to operational loading and what engineering problems must be solved for reliable operation of the sealing mechanism.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
