Abstract :
The commercialization status of Stirling machines varies from established niche market products to potential products that are in early stages of development. In other words, we are talking about a typical emerging technology. Many organizations are actively pursuing product development based on Stirling machine technology. Stirling machines offer significant performance advantages, but many obstacles remain to be fully resolved, including cost and demonstrated reliability. This article describes the technology upon which Stirling machines are based. Several application areas are then explored, including hot air engines, remote power, solar thermal power, sensor cooling, refrigeration, cogeneration and air-independent propulsion
Keywords :
Stirling engines; cooling; refrigeration; Stirling machines; air-independent propulsion; cogeneration; emerging technology; hot air engines; performance advantages; product development; refrigeration; reliability; remote power; sensor cooling; solar thermal power; Helium; Internal combustion engines; Mechanical energy; Pistons; Refrigeration; Space heating; Space shuttles; Stirling engines; Temperature distribution; Thermodynamics;
