Performance of a prototype Stirling domestic refrigerator

The V-type integral Stirling refrigerator (VISR) consisting of an expansion cylinder, a compression cylinder and a heat exchanger in-between was developed and tested in this research. The expansion and compression pistons are V-shaped and driven by a crank-shift mechanism. A cold head connected to the expansion piston provides the cooling capacity. The refrigerator has a semi-hermetic configuration. The parameters such as the power consumption and the coefficient of performance (COP) are investigated under various rotating speeds and charged pressures. The results would help us for the optimal design and operation of the V-type integral Stirling refrigerator, when it is applied to the domestic refrigeration system. The characteristics curves of the prototype VISR could be applied to other usages.