Diaphragm Stirling engine heat-actuated heat pump development

A power module, consisting of a free displacer, resonant Stirling engine, hydraulic transmission, and resonant Rankine refrigerant (F-22) compressor, embodies several innovative concepts in free-piston Stirling engine heat pump design that will advance the state of the art of this technology. Progress is reported in three areas of the program. A compressor/engine matching analysis and a stability analysis show that the power module, which is representative of a two-degree-of-freedom resonant system, can operate stably over the full range of heat pump conditions. A compressor design evolved that has met criteria for performance and cost. Tests employing a hydraulic simulator test rig show that the transmission losses are less than had been predicted, and that properly designed and fabricated diaphragms can attain long life.