Efficiency of Stirling heat engines

[mysticwolves]

Not sure if this should be posted in the general physics forums or in the hw/coursework section.

I'm in my second semester of general physics and have to do a class project. For my project I built an alpha type Stirling engine. In the paper I need to write I need to explain how it works using physics. I'm am stuck on the second law of thermodynamics and finding the efficiency (real and ideal) of a Stirling heat engine. I also need to compare the Stirling engine to the carnot engine.

I know the efficiency of a carnot is effc= 1-(Tc/Th).

What formula is used to calculate the the real efficiency of a Stirling heat engine?

 

[berkeman]

Not sure if this should be posted in the general physics forums or in the hw/coursework section.

I'm in my second semester of general physics and have to do a class project. For my project I built an alpha type Stirling engine. In the paper I need to write I need to explain how it works using physics. I'm am stuck on the second law of thermodynamics and finding the efficiency (real and ideal) of a Stirling heat engine. I also need to compare the Stirling engine to the carnot engine.

I know the efficiency of a carnot is effc= 1-(Tc/Th).

What formula is used to calculate the the real efficiency of a Stirling heat engine?

Welcome to the PF.

What have you been reading about the Stirling engine? What equations and derivations have you seen so far for its efficiency?

 

[mysticwolves]

I have been searching Google for various information. On a few sites they use the carnot efficiency for Stirling engines which I wasn't sure if that was the correct equation. On other sites the equations used calculus that I haven't used before.

 

[mysticwolves]

I know these equations for efficiency:

effc=1-(Tc/Th)

eff=W/Qin

 

[paranormal]

The efficiency of a Stirling heat engine is typically calculated using the following formula:

η = (W/Qh) = (1 - Tc/Th)

where η is the efficiency, W is the work output, Qh is the heat input at the high temperature reservoir (Th), and Tc is the temperature at the cold temperature reservoir.

This formula is similar to the one for the Carnot engine, but it takes into account the fact that the Stirling engine operates on a closed cycle rather than an idealized reversible process. This means that there will be some energy losses due to friction and other inefficiencies in the engine.

In comparison to the Carnot engine, the Stirling engine can have a higher efficiency for the same temperature difference (Th - Tc), but it may also have a lower efficiency due to these energy losses. Overall, the efficiency of a Stirling engine can vary depending on factors such as the design and operating conditions.

I suggest conducting further research and analysis to determine the real efficiency of your specific alpha type Stirling engine and comparing it to the ideal efficiency and the efficiency of a Carnot engine. This will provide a more accurate and detailed understanding of the efficiency of Stirling heat engines.