External Combustion Engine
External Combustion Engine
• Uses fuel to heat a gas or a vapor through the walls of an
external chamber, and the heated gas or vapor is then
transferred to the power cylinder.
• Heat is supplied to the working fluid from an external
source such as a furnace, a geothermal well, a nuclear
reactor, or even the sun.
External Combustion Engine
Advantages:
1. First, a variety of fuels can be used as a source of thermal
energy.
2. Second, there is more time for combustion, and thus the
combustion process is more complete, which means less
air pollution and more energy extraction from the fuel.
3. Third, these engines operate on closed cycles, and thus a
working fluid that has the most desirable characteristics
(stable, chemically inert, high thermal conductivity) can be
utilized as the working fluid. Hydrogen and helium are two
gases commonly employed in these engines.
External Combustion Engine
• Requires a heat exchanger, or boiler to take in heat, and
as their fuels are burnt externally under steady conditions,
they can in principle use any fuel that can burn, including
agricultural residues or waste materials.
• There are two main families of ECE;
1. Steam engines which rely on expanding steam to
drive a mechanism;
2. Stirling and Ericsson Cycle Engines
External Combustion Engine
Stirling and Ericsson Cycles utilize
regeneration, a process during
which heat is transferred to a
thermal energy storage device
(called a regenerator) during one
part of the cycle and is transferred
back to the working fluid during
another part of the cycle.
A regenerator is a device that borrows
energy from the working fluid during
one part of the cycle and pays it back
(without interest) during another part.
Stirling Engine Cycle
• Heat engine that is operated
by a cyclic compression and
expansion of air or other gas
(the working fluid) at different
temperatures, such that there
is a net conversion of heat
energy to mechanical work.
• Composed of two isothermal
and two isometric processes.
Stirling Engine Cycle
(a) Stroke 1→2: The gas in the engine
is expanded at the constant
temperature TH.
(b) Stroke 2→3: At constant volume
V2, the temperature of the gas is
reduced from TH to TC.
(c) Stroke 3→4: The gas is
compressed at constant
temperature TC.
(d) Stroke 4→1: At constant volume
V1, the temperature of the gas is
increased from TC to TH
Stirling Engine Cycle
Mechanical output and Heating and cooling
propulsion 3.1 Stirling cryocoolers
1.1 Automotive engines 3.2 Heat pumps
1.2 Electric vehicles 3.3 Portable refrigeration
1.3 Aircraft engines
1.4 Marine engines Low temperature difference
1.5 Pump engines engines
Electrical power generation Other applications
2.1 Combined heat and power 5.1 Acoustic Stirling Heat Engine
2.2 Solar power generation 5.2 MicroCHP
2.3 Nuclear power 5.3 Chip cooling
5.4 Desalination
Design and development of Solar Stirling Engine for
power generation (https://iopscience.iop.org/)
Abstract
This paper provides a study on the configuration
of solar Stirling engine and analyzes the
performance of using a parabolic reflector as a
heat source. The key principle of a Stirling engine
is that a fixed amount of a gas is sealed inside
the engine. The Stirling cycle involves a series of
events that change the pressure of the gas inside
the engine, causing it to do work.
Ericsson Engine Cycle
Ericsson is a thermodynamic
closed cycle which consists of
two isothermal processes and
two isobaric processes. Heat
addition and rejection are at
isothermal processes. This uses
gas as a medium in practical
application. The application is in
hot air engines.
Ericsson Engine Cycle
(a) Stroke 1→2: The gas in the engine
is expanded at the constant
temperature TH.
(b) Stroke 2→3: At constant pressure
P2, the temperature of the gas is
reduced from TH to TL.
(c) Stroke 3→4: The gas is
compressed at constant
temperature TL.
(d) Stroke 4→1: At constant pressure
P1, the temperature of the gas is
increased from TL to TH
A distinguishing characteristic of the Ericsson cycle compared to those you listed is that the heat
addition does not occur inside the engine but rather from the outside, that is, it is a cycle for an
external combustion engine. In this regard, it is more similar to a steam engine, a Stirling engine, or
a Carnot cycle. It is, in fact, a real cycle that resembles in most regards the ideal Carnot cycle, but
with realistic heat transfer. It has been used, though rarely, in some applications (powering
ships, etc.). It generally involves more valves and similar components than the Stirling cycle with
which it generally is compared. Since it presupposes isothermal expansion and compression, it is
very difficult to implement in a system in which these processes occur rapidly. It is much more
suited to relatively low rpm applications or other applications in which the heat transfer
needed during compression and expansion can be realistically realized.
Larry L. Baxter (2nd Feb, 2019) Brigham Young University - Provo Main Campus
https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_is_the_practical_application_of_Ericsson_cycle
Comparison of the T-s and P-v Diagrams of Carnot, Stirling and Ericsson Cycle
The thermal
efficiency of these
totally reversible
cycle is
𝐓𝐋
𝛈𝐭𝐡 =𝟏−
𝐓𝐇
Applications
• Despite the physical limitations and impracticalities associated with
them, both the Stirling and Ericsson cycles give a strong message to
design engineers: Regeneration can increase efficiency.
• Modern gas-turbine and steam power plants make extensive use of
regeneration - Brayton cycle with intercooling, reheating, and
regeneration utilized in large gas-turbine power plants closely
resembles the Ericsson cycle.
• The Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corporation, and the
Phillips Research Laboratories of the Netherlands have
successfully developed Stirling engines suitable for trucks, buses,
and even automobiles.
• More research and development are needed before these engines
can compete with the gasoline or diesel engines.
Steam Engines
• A steam engine is a heat engine that performs
mechanical work using steam as its working fluid.
• The steam engine uses the force produced by steam
pressure to push a piston back and forth inside a
cylinder.
• Reciprocating piston type steam engines were the
dominant source of power until the early 20th century.
• Steam turbines replaced reciprocating engines in power
generation, due to lower cost, higher operating speed,
and higher efficiency
Steam Engines
• Steam Generating Unit (SGU) is a combination of
apparatus used for producing, furnishing, or recovering
heat, together with the apparatus for transferring the
working fluid.
• It is consist of a) pressure parts, b) enclosure or
setting, c) combustion equipment, d) Auxiliaries.
Essential components of SGU
1. Boiler
2. Furnace
3. Fuel-burning equipment
4. Superheater
5. Economizer
6. Air-preheater
7. Steam reheater
8. Attemperator
9. Waterwalls
10. Water floor
11. Water screens
12. Steam purifier
Heat Balance for Steam Generator
1. Heat absorbed by the steam generator
The usable form of energy.
ms (hs −hfw )
Q1 = , kJ/kg
mf
Heat Balance for Steam Generator
2. Heat loss due to heat carried away by dry flue gas
(chimney gas)
Reasons:
1.High excess air as revealed in low Carbon dioxide content of flue gas.
2.High flue gas temperature
• dirty heating surfaces
• poor water circulation
• scale on water side
• dead gas pockets
• leaky or ineffective baffles
• gas velocity too high
Heat Balance for Steam Generator
2. Heat loss due to heat carried away by dry flue gas
(chimney gas)
Q 2 = mdg cpg t g − t a , kJ/kg
Heat Balance for Steam Generator
3. Heat loss due to evaporation of moisture formed by the
combustion of hydrogen
′′ ′
Q 3 = 9H2 h − hf , kJ/kg
Heat Balance for Steam Generator
4. Heat loss due to evaporation of moisture in coal
Reasons:
1.Excessive wetting down of coal before firing.
2.High moisture absorption by coal in yard storage.
′′ ′
Q 4 = mm h − hf , kJ/kg
Heat Balance for Steam Generator
5. Heat loss due to incomplete combustion of fuel
Reasons:
1. Insufficient air supply
2. Fuel bed in poor condition
3. Undercooling of furnace at low ratings
4. Improper setting of boilers
Heat Balance for Steam Generator
5. Heat loss due to incomplete combustion of fuel
CO
Q5 = 23, 630 C1 , kJ/kg
CO2 + CO
Heat Balance for Steam Generator
6. Heat loss due to unburned combustible in the ashpit
Reasons:
1. Grate or stoker not proportioned to kind of fuel used.
2.Too high rate of combustion attempted.
3.Grates dumped or fuel bed sliced too frequently.
4.Furnace temperature is above fusion temperature of
ash.
Heat Balance for Steam Generator
6. Heat loss due to unburned combustible in the ashpit
mr
Q 6 = 33830 Cr , kJ/kg
mf
Heat Balance for Steam Generator
7. Heat loss due to moisture in the air
Reasons:
1. Moisture-laden air as from steam jet
2. High excess air on days of high humidity. This loss is
small and frequently included with several other small
losses, usually unaccounted for, such as soot or cinder
in chimney gas, heat in ashes, etc.
Heat Balance for Steam Generator
7. Heat loss due to moisture in the air
Q 7 = mv cpv t g − t a , kJ/kg
Heat Balance for Steam Generator
8. Heat loss from radiation and all other losses
Reasons:
1. Boiler drums uninsulated.
2. Wall of setting toot thin or of poor quality.
3. Furnace refractories in need of repair or renewal.
Heat Balance for Steam Generator
8. Heat loss from radiation and all other losses
𝐐𝟖 = 𝐇𝐇𝐕 − (𝐐𝟏 + 𝐐𝟐 + 𝐐𝟑 + 𝐐𝟒 + 𝐐𝟓 + 𝐐𝟔 + 𝐐𝟕 , 𝐤𝐉/𝐤𝐠
Gas Turbines
• Gas Turbine is a combustion engine in applications much
above 10 MW.
• Large units regularly operate in 100 MW to approximately
230 MW.
• Gas turbines usually operate on an open cycle.
The open gas-turbine cycle described above can be modeled
as a closed cycle by utilizing the air-standard assumptions.
Brayton Cycle
The ideal cycle for a gas turbine is
called Brayton Cycle.
Four internally reversible
processes:
1-2 Isentropic compression
(in a compressor)
2-3 Constant-pressure heat addition
3-4 Isentropic expansion (in a
turbine)
4-1 Constant-pressure heat rejection
Brayton Cycle
Analysis assuming constant specific heats
𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐭 = 𝐪𝐢𝐧 − 𝐪𝐨𝐮𝐭
𝐪𝐢𝐧 = 𝐜𝐩 (𝐓𝟑 − 𝐓𝟐 )
𝐪𝐨𝐮𝐭 = 𝐜𝐩 (𝐓𝟏 − 𝐓𝟒 )
𝐤𝐉
𝐜𝐩 = 𝟏. 𝟎𝟎𝟓
𝐤𝐠 − 𝐊
Brayton Cycle
Analysis assuming constant specific heats
Net Work, Wnet:
Wnet = Wt − Wc
Turbine Work, Wt:
Wt = mg cpg (T3 − T4 )
Compressor Work, Wc:
Wc = ma cpa (T2 − T1 )
Brayton Cycle
Analysis assuming constant specific heats
Isentropic Processes 1-2 and 3-4
Brayton Cycle
Analysis accounting variation in specific heats
𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐭 = 𝐪𝐢𝐧 − 𝐪𝐨𝐮𝐭
𝐪𝐢𝐧 = 𝐡𝟑 − 𝐡𝟐
𝐪𝐨𝐮𝐭 = 𝐡𝟒 − 𝐡𝟏
Brayton Cycle
Analysis accounting variation in specific heats
Net Work, Wnet:
Wnet = Wt − Wc
Turbine Work, Wt:
Wt = m(h3 − h4 )
Compressor Work, Wc:
Wc = m(h2 − h1 )
Brayton Cycle
Thermal Efficiency
Wn 1
ηth = = 1 − k−1
qin
k
rp
Pressure ratio:
P2 Pr2
rp = =
P1 Pr1
Brayton Cycle
A power plant with a high back
work ratio requires a larger turbine
to provide the additional power
requirements of the compressor.
Therefore, the turbines used in gas-
turbine power plants are larger In gas-turbine power plants, the
than those used in steam ratio of the compressor work to
the turbine work, called the
power plants of the same net back work ratio
power output.
Brayton Cycle
• Two major application areas of gas-turbine
engines are aircraft propulsion and electric power
generation.
• For aircraft propulsion, the gas turbine produces just
enough power to drive the compressor and a small
generator to power the auxiliary equipment. The
high-velocity exhaust gases are responsible for
producing the necessary thrust to propel the aircraft.
Brayton Cycle
• Gas turbines is use in stationary power plants to
generate electricity as stand-alone units or in
conjunction with steam power plants on the high-
temperature side. The exhaust gases of the gas turbine
serve as the heat source for the steam.
• The gas-turbine cycle can also be executed as a closed
cycle for use in nuclear power plants. The working fluid
is not limited to air, and a gas with more desirable
characteristics (such as helium) can be used.
