School of Engineering and Technology

Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

HIT 200 Project Proposal

Title: Design and manufacture of Stirling Engine for Concentration of

Solar Thermal Energy Power Plant Applications

Submitted by:

Tinashe Maposa H1311727Z

Abel Mpofu H1310400A

Luckmore Furidze H1311445F

Luckmore Munhuashati H1310619L

Nyasha Nhema H1310542M

1.1 Introduction

1.2 Background

1.3 Problem statement

1.4 Aim

1.5 Objectives

1.6 Scope

1.7 Justification

1.8 Expected results

1.9 Time frame

1.10 Conclusion

1.1 Introduction

In our project we will design and produce a low cost sterling engine for power plant
applications that uses concentrated solar thermal energy.

Stirling engine, first patented by Robert Stirling in 1816, is a mechanical

device that can be used to convert heat from various types of fuels including solar thermal
energy, to be useful power without combustion inside the engine and no pollution.[7]
A Stirling engine is a closed cycle, regenerative engine that uses external combustion instead
of internal combustion like most conventional engines. The Stirling engine has a sealed
cylinder with one part hot and the other part cold. The working gas in the engine (which is
often air, helium or hydrogen) is moved by a mechanism from the hot side to the cold side.
When the gas is on the hot side it expands pushing a piston. When it moves back to the cold
side it contracts and hence the cycle continues. The constant expansion and contraction of the
gas can be transformed into a power output.

1.2 Background

In Zimbabwe and the world at large the energy crisis is a reality. Conventional, non-
renewable, fossil fuels e.g. coal, natural gas, petroleum products, are finite resources that will
eventually run out and become too expensive .Another major concern of the use of these
conventional sources of energy is pollution and global warming which will lead to climate
change.

Currently the Zimbabwe and most of the world rely heavily on coal and other non-renewable
energies, which are limited resources that will eventually run out or too environmentally
damaging to retrieve [1].According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory of the U.S
Department of Energy [2], renewable energy is important because of the benefits it provides
mainly;

1. Environmental benefits - cleaner sources of energy with lower environmental impact than
conventional technologies
2. Jobs and the Economy renewable energy investments can be spent on materials and
workmanship to build the facilities rather than costly imports

3. Renewable energy will not run out The future of our children will be more secure.

4. Energy Security For example, a greater push for renewable energies in Zimbabwe will
help in reducing dependence on other foreign countries, reducing imports. Dependence on
foreign electricity supplies affects more than just governments energy policy.

All around the world there are depleting coal reserves, according to the World Coal
Association official website, it has been estimated that there are over 861 billion tonnes of
proven coal reserves worldwide. This means that there is enough coal to last us around 112
years at current rates of production. In contrast, proven oil and gas reserves are equivalent to
around 46 and 54 years at current production levels [3].

Fig .1. Common sources of greenhouse emissions[4]

Global warming affects significantly on the current climate in all areas of the world. Many
researchers investigated that the increasing of world temperature results from the rise and
excess of CO2 is the major problem because of greenhouse effect. The main source of CO2 is
come from fossil fuel combustion as in automobile, internal combustion engine (ICE)
machine, industrial factories, power plants and etc. Fossil fuel, even though, provides such
high energy and meets requirement but it also gives CO2 and pollutions.
Alternative and renewable energy, therefore, is used to compensate and reduce excess CO2
such as biomass and solar energy. [4]

With this in mind alternative energy resources should be pursued well before an absolute end
to fossil fuels is reached to protect our environment and our quality of life [5](world fossil)

For the past 10 or so years Zimbabwe has been experiencing some serious power shortages.
Zimbabwe is currently generating about half of its 2200 MW power requirements, leaving
industry and households to grapple with rolling electricity power cuts (New Zimbabwe, 21
August, 2014).An increase in renewable energies applications in Zimbabwe will alleviate the
current problems facing the country.

The urgent need to preserve fossil fuels and to use renewable energies leads us to the topic
under discussion and focus, the use of Stirling engines, these engines present an excellent
practical output, they can use any source of energy (energy of combustion, solar energy...)
and they are less polluting than the traditional engines [6]
1.3 Problem Statement

Electricity shortages in Zimbabwe and the world at large is negatively affecting the economy
and society.

1.4 Aim

To design and manufacture a low cost Stirling engine for concentration of solar thermal
energy for power plant applications

1.5 Objectives

Development of working drawings

Selection of suitable materials
Machining of components as per required specifications
Prototyping of the design
Testing of the design
1.6 Scope

Design of Stirling Engine

1.7 Justification

Power shortages in Zimbabwe are forcing some companies to close due to high operating
costs (expenses incurred from fuel for generators and time wasted during power cuts).

For instance Zimbabwe experienced a 17,69% deficit on its total domestic and commercial
electricity requirements during the first 8 months to August 2013, official industry data has
shown (The Herald, September 30, 2013)[8]

Power cuts are an inconvenience to the day-to-day activities of families in Zimbabwe. For
example children are not able to study at night due to lack of appropriate light.

Zimbabwe is currently facing foreign currency shortages therefore the current importation of
electricity from other countries is a huge cost to the government. Producing renewable energy
in Zimbabwe can therefore lessen the importing of electricity.

1.8 Expected Results

A working Stirling engine that will be able to work using a heat energy source.

1.9 Conclusion

After all this has been said the Stirling engine, an external combustion engine, will be to
produce power with lower pollution levels compared to the conventional internal combustion
engine. An economically viable Stirling engine will be a major step forwards for renewable
energy technology. A functional Stirling engine will pave the way for sustainable power plant
applications.

Issues pertaining to renewable environmentally friendly technology should be taken into

great consideration if not for your sake but definitely for the sake of our children and
grandchildren.
1.10 Time frame

OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY

Task Name
Project title
selection
Project proposal
writing
Submission and
presentation of the
proposal
Literature Review
Prototype design
Purchase of the
components
Assembly, Testing
and
Implementation
Results and
Discussion writing
Conclusion
Referencing
Appendicing
Final Project
presentation
Final Submission

KEY: Yellow -completed

Green -not completed

1.11 References

[1] ,mdp-zimbabwe-project/energy-issues ,International Journal of Engineering Research and

General Science Volume 2, Issue 3, April-May 2014 ISS https://sites.google.com/a/tcd.ie/mdp-
zimbabwe-project/energy-issues N 2091-2730

[1][2]National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Department of Energy,(2014),Why is

renewable energy important?, www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/tech/why, [Accessed:
05th October 2014]

[3]Where is coal found? (2013), www.worldcoal.org/coal/where-is-coal-found/,[Accessed:

05th October 2014]

[4]HNS 2010 Strategic Sustainability Perfomance Plan, National Institutes of Health,U.S

Department of Health & Human
Sciences,nems.nih.gov/Sustainability/Pages/Scope_1_and_2_GHG.aspx /,[Accessed: 05th
October 2014]

[5]The Colorado river commission of Nevada, World Fossil Fuel Reserves and Projected
Depletion,(2002), [Accessed: 05th October 2014]

[6]Iskander Tlili,(2011) Thermodynamic Study on Optimal Solar Stirling Engine

Cycle Taking Into Account the Irreversibilities Effects, Energy Procedia,

www.sciencedirect.com, p585 [Accessed: 05th October 2014]

[7]Sutapat Kwankaomeng, Banterng Silpsakoolsook, Pongnarin Savangvong, (2013),

Investigation on Stability and Performance of a Free-Piston

Stirling Engine, Energy Procedia, www.sciencedirect.com, p599 [Accessed: 05th October

2014]

Gianluca Valenti, Paolo Silva, Nicola Fergnani, Gioele Di Marcoberardino, Stefano

Campanari, Ennio Macchi,(2014) Experimental and numerical study of a

micro-cogeneration Stirling engine for residential applications, Energy Procedia,

www.sciencedirect.com, p585 [Accessed: 05th October 2014]

[8]Golden Sibanda, Zimbabwe faces power deficit, September 30th 2014,

www.herald.co.zw/zim-faces-power-deficit, [Accessed: 05th October 2014]