Basic principles of the Stirling cycle

The basic principles of the Stirling cycle are outlined. From an elementary theory the general properties of the cycle are derived with a discussion of the most important losses. The performance of the fundamental and ideal (isothermal) cycle are described. The actual cycle, which differs from the ideal one by the occurrence of losses is also described. In the ideal Stirling cycle, the cold is produced by the reversible expansion of a gas. The gas performs a closed cycle, during which it is alternately compressed at ambient temperature in a compression space and expanded at the desired low temperature in an expansion space, thereby reciprocating between these spaces through one connecting duct, wherein a regenerator provides for the heat exchange between the outgoing and the returning gas flow. The problem of how to minimize the total sum of the losses is examined.