The University of the South Pacific

School of Engineering and Physics

MM301- Energy Supplies

Theoretical Performance of Heat

Engine

NAME: ARON CHAND

STUDENT ID: S11110303
PROGRAM: BACHELORS OF ENGINEERING (MECHANICAL)
SUPERVISOR: DR. ATUL RATURI

Aim
1. To demonstrate the working principle and theoretical analysis on two
types of heat engines which are:
- Steam Engine
- Sterling Engine.
2. Compare the performance of a steam engine with the performance of a
sterling engine

Objective
At the end of this project the group will be able to:
- Understand the working principle of the steam engine and the sterling
engine.
- Analyze the basic process in each cycle and compare the performance
between the two cycles.

Acknowledgements
I would personally like to acknowledge this list of people, without whom, this
project would not have been successful:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Ms. Shirleen Swapna (PH301 Tutor).

Dr. Atul Raturi (Senior Lecturer and our project supervisor).
Dr. Surendra Prasad (Senior Lecturer).
Mesake Navunawa (Group Member).
Isaiah Holmes (Group Member).

Lastly, I would like to acknowledge my sources in the reference section of this

report, through which I have demonstrated my project more thoroughly.

Declaration of Originality
I would like to personally declare that this is my original piece of work, and all
the information and resources which I have used in this project are properly
referenced and acknowledged.

..
Aron Chand
(23rd May 2015)

Introduction
This project is based on heat engines. There are a variety of heat engines and are
categorized into two main branches and they are called internal combustion and
external combustion. In an internal combustion engine, the combustion of fuel
or cycle reaction occurs in a confined area. Such examples are Compression
ignition engine [1], which is commonly known as Diesel engine and Spark
ignition engine, also known as Petrol engine [2].

Figure 1: Animated design of a Compression ignition engine

Figure 1: Animated design of a Spark ignition engine

External combustion engines are engines, where the combustion process

does not always have a fixed confined area, they occur openly. Such
examples are Gas turbine [3] and Steam turbine [4].

Figure 3: Animated design of a Gas Turbine (Jet engine)

Figure 4: Siemens steam Turbine.

This project focuses mainly on the performance analysis on steam engine

and a sterling engine. Sterling engine [5] is a type of engine which requires
gas as the working fluid and it does not has any by-product such as fume
or any other harmful gas. Instead, there is only heat addition and heat
rejection. The sterling engine works solely on gas expansion and
compression, and is also an external combustion engine. This type of
engine also follows the sterling cycle which is slight similar to Carnot
cycle, but the efficiency is less compared to Carnot cycle. As the gas heats
it expands inside the confined space, pushing the displacer upwards,
cranking the flywheel rotation, , upon more expansion, it flows over the

displacer and enters the cold region where it is cooled again and then
contraction occurs and the whole cycle starts again with the same gas.
Secondly, the steam engine [6] works on the Rankine cycle process, where
it uses water as a working fluid. Water is heated inside the boiler where it
leaves the boiler as superheated steam, and upon flowing over the turbine
or against piston at such high temperature and pressure, it causes the
turbine to rotate or piston to reciprocate and thus mechanical work is
produced. Upon passing over the turbine or again the piston, the steam
loses heat and phase change occurs and finally it passes through a
condenser where it rejects more heat and upon leaving the condenser it is
in liquid state. Finally, it is pumped back up to the boiler where the cycle
continues again.

Figure 5: Animated design of a Sterling Engine.

Figure 6: Application of a Rankine Cycle.

Literature Review
Steam Engine
Steam engines are of two types; piston type and turbine type
Reciprocating Piston Steam Engine
In a reciprocating piston steam engine, the water is heated in the boiler
until state change occurs. Upon further heating of the water vapor, it
changes into superheated steam. The steam is released into the piston
cylinder where it pushes the piston upwards, causing the flywheel to rotate,
this in turn creates a moment on the flywheel where upon continuous
reciprocating motion the rotation continues and causes the shaft coupled
with it to rotate. This in turn can generate electricity in a generator or other
mechanical work. Figure [7] below demonstrates a simple piston driven
steam engine.

Figure 7: Demonstration of Rankine Cycle with a piston.

Steam turbine
In a steam turbine, the boiler converts the water into high pressure steam,
after which it passes over the turbine. While it is passing through the
turbine, the enthalpy of the steam decreases until it changes state from
steam to liquid. Then it flows to the condenser or heat exchanger where
upon more heat loss, it leaves as a liquid. Then it is pumped back up to the
boiler. The figure [8] below demonstrates a Rankine cycle and also the
basic component and cycle of the working fluid

Figure 8: Rankine

Cycle with a
Steam Turbine

Sterling Engine
There are three major types of sterling engine and they are classified as:
Alpha Type
In this type of set-up, the hot and cold chambers where expansion and
compression occurs, are separate from each other with a regenerator in
between them. There are two pistons for each cylinder and both are
connected to the same crankshaft. Regenerator takes away heat from the
hot gas upon expansion and gives in heat to the cold gas upon
compression.

Figure 9: Alpha type Sterling Engine.

Beta Type
In a beta type configuration [10], there is only one chamber with one
piston and a displacer. The displacer is loosely mounted so that it can force
the flow of the working fluid inside the chamber between the clod and hot
section.

Figure

10: Beta
type Sterling Engine.

Gamma Type
These types also function similar to beta type, expansion and compression
occurs in same chamber where the displacer influences the fluid flow in
the section. The major difference when compared to beta is that the power
piston is not in-line with the displacer piston but in a different chamber
which is jointed to the compression side of the first chamber. The
advantage of this arrangement is that it prevents the power piston to be
influenced by the size of the displacer or the orientation. But a major
disadvantage of this type is that the compression is low thus low shaft
power

Figure 11: Gamma type Sterling Engine.

Basic Parts and Component

Steam Engine

Engine frame
Cylinder
Steam chest
Stuffing box and gland packing
The crosshead guide is a link between the piston rod and the
connecting rod.

 Main bearings support the engine crankshaft and are fitted on the
engine frame.
Piston
Cam shaft( for valve opening and closing)

Sterling Engine

Piston
Displacer
Heat source
Heat sink
Linkages
Crankshaft
Regenerator

Methodology
- Research, compile and evaluation of the analysis of steam engine and
sterling engine.
- Findings on the efficiency for both and comparison, to determine the
better performer.

Results and Discussion

Steam Engine
Hypothetical
clearance

indicator

diagram

considering

compression

and

Figure 12: Hypothetical indicator diagram

Process 6-1 steam admission

Process 1-2 hyperbolic expansion
Process 2-3 exhaust valve opens at 2 and the stroke reaches dead center at
3
Process 3-4 Exhaust of steam into condenser
Process 4-5 Compression of remaining steam in the cylinder
Process 5-6 Fresh steam enters the boiler at the state 5 for the next cycle.
Its pressure rises immediately to the boiler pressure
Work done
W = area of indicator diagram
W=

p1 ( V 1 V c ) + p 1 V 1 ln

[ ( )]

W = p 1 V 1 1+ ln

V
V2
pb ( V 2V 4 ) p b V 4 ln ( 4 )
V1
Vc

( )

V2
v
p 1 v c p b ( v s + v c v 4 ) p b v 4 ln ( 4 )
V1
vc

[1]

We define:
r = v2/v1 (expansion ratio)
r c = (V1-Vc)/Vs (cut off ratio)

= (v 4v c )/v s
Compression
Vc

C = Vs

(fraction of stroke volume completed at the start off)

(clearance volume ratio)

Using the above defined terms we get:

V 1= V s +V c

and

V 4 = V s +V c

Therefore Work done can be rewritten as:

W = p 1 V 1 [ 1+ ln ( r ) ] p1 v c pb (1 )v s p b ( v s+ v c ) ln (

+c
)
c

Mean effective pressure

pm =

p1 v c
Vs
V s Vc
work done
W P1 V 1
+c
= =
1+ln ( r e ) ]
pb ( 1 ) pb
+
ln
[
swept volume V s
Vs
vs
Vs
Vs V s
c

pm= p1 ( +c ) [ 1+ ln ( r e ) ] p 1 c p b ( 1 ) p b ( +c ) ln

)[ ]

( +c c )

If neglecting the effect of compression = 0 and we get:

W = p 1 V 1 [ 1+ ln ( r ) ] p1 v c pb v s
pm= p1 ( +c ) [ 1+ ln ( r e ) ] p 1 c p b

Steam consumption
The steam consumption of a steam engine may be defined as the amount of
steam in kg consumed by the engine per hour. The steam consumption for
an engine can be obtained from the theoretical indicator diagram.
Mass of steam admitted per cycle:

ms=volume of steam swept up cut off x density of steam

1
1
ms= d 2 L x x =( V s ) ( kg)
4
v
v

Where:
d = bore of cylinder
L = length of stroke of piston (m)
= cut off ratio
m3
v = specific volume of steam at admission pressure ( kg

For a single acting steam engine which makes N revolutions per minute:
2
1
kg
m s= d L x x x 60 N ( )
4
v
h

This equation represents the steam consumption on one side of the

piston. For single acting steam engine it represents the total steam
consumption per hour. For a double acting steam engine the total steam
engine is twice the above amount, provided:
The cut off ratio on both sides is the same
The volume occupied by the piston rod is negligible
Thus for a double acting steam engine:

1
kg
m s= d 2 L x x x 2 x 60 N ( )
4
v
h

Power Output of Steam engine

Piston speed: It is the linear speed travelled by a piston per second and is
expressed as follows:
V =2 ln /60 (m/s) .
Theoretical indicated power: The theoretical power developed by the
engine inside the cylinder as shown by the area of an indicated diagram is
known as indicated power. It is designated as IPth and expressed as the
product of force and velocity of the piston
IPth =M . E . P x crosssectional area of piston x piston velocity
IPth = pm A

2 ln
n
= p m LA
60
60

Where:
n = N for single acting cylinder
= 2N, for double acting engine
N = rotation per minute of the engine
Actual indicated power
The actual indicated power developed by an engine:
IP= p m ,actual LA

n
60

Brake Power
It is the power available (output) at the crank shaft of the engine. However,
it is less than the power developed in the cylinder due to frictional losses.
The brake power is measured by dynamometers like rope brake, prony
brake or hydraulic dynamometers.

Figure 13: Rope brake dynamometer

Where:
W = Weight applied on rope , (N=mg)
S = spring balance reading (N)
N = speed of the crank shaft, rpm
R = effective radius of the brake drum
Then:

BP=Force x

Displacement (W s)
N
=
x 2 R
time
1000
60

Frictional Power
The frictional power is the difference between the indicated power and the
brake power.
FP = IP BP

Heat supplied by steam to engine

Q s= m s (h1h2)

Where:

m s=mass flow rate of the steam

h1=specific enthalpy of steam entering theengine
h2=specific enthalpy of exhaust steam

KJ
( KG
)

KJ
( KG
)

Indicated thermal efficiency

It is defined as the ratio of actual indicated power developed in the engine
cylinder to heat supplied by the steam
nith =

IPact
m s (h1h 2)

Brake thermal efficiency

The ratio of brake power to energy supplied by steam
nbth =

BP
m s (h1h2)

Mechanical efficiency
nmech =

BP nbth
=
IP nith

Overall efficiency
It is defined as the ratio of the brake power to energy supplied by the fuel
for steam generation in the boiler.

noverall =

BP
m f x CV

Where:
m f = rate of fuel supply
CV = calorific value of fuel (KJ/kg)

Sterling Engine (Ideal)

The diagrams below show the
typical cycle of an ideal sterling engine

Figure 14: Typical of an ideal sterling cycle diagram

The table below lists each phase with corresponding alphabets
State
Chang
e

Sterling Engine Heat Cycle Processes

A-B

Isothermal Compression.

B-C

Constant Volume Heat Transfer

C- D

Isothermal Expansion

D-A

Constant Volume Heat Rejection

Mean Effective Pressure:

= [(P3-P2) V3 / (V1-V2)] ln (V1-V2)
Work Done:
= Heat in(C-D) Heat out (A-B)
Torque:
= Net Force acting on the flywheel * radius of flywheel
Shaft Power:
= 2*pi*torque*angular speed (revs/s)
Thermal efficiency:
= shaft power/ heat added to the system
Heat added to system:
Heat added to system=heat released by fuel/source.
Heat released by source:
= Efficiency of source * heat used by source
Heat used by source:
= volume of fuel used by source* calorific value of the fuel

Discussion on Stirling Engine

In the P-v diagram of the sterling engine cycle;
1. From 1(A) to 2(B), the air is compressed at constant temperature and
also during this time, heat is rejected to the cold sink.
2. From 2(B) to 3(C), partial heat is added by the regenerator at constant
volume.
3. From 3(C) to 4(D), air is expanded at constant temperature due to heat
addition until it reaches 4(D)
4. From 4(D) to 1(A), the heated air is cooled down by a regenerator at
constant volume, and then the cycle repeats.
Heat released by fuel per volume can be determined by testing a fixed
volume sample in a bomb calorimeter and then multiplying the volume of

fuel used to the result obtained after testing the fixed sample volume tested
in the bomb calorimeter.
Total heat released can be determined by multiplying the calorific value of
the fuel used with the volume of fuel used and then dividing the product
with the average time taken for the volume of fuel burnt. The results from
here can be substituted into the given formulas to determine the final work
done, efficiency and mean effective pressure of the sterling engine.

Discussion on Steam Engine

In the P-v diagram of the steam engine cycle;
1. From 6-1; steam is transferred to the chamber at high pressure until the
pressure is high enough to force the piston to take a stroke
2. Process 1-2; is a hyperbolic expansion, where the steam is expanding in
the cylinder while piston is displacing
3. Process 2-3; exhaust valve opens at 2 while the piston is moving to the
dead center resulting in steam ejection from the chamber and at 3the
stroke reaches dead center.
4. Process 3-4; steam is exhausted out of the chamber.
5. Process 4-5; the remaining steam in the cylinder is compressed as the
piston comes back
6. Process 5-6 Fresh steam enters the boiler at the state 5 for the next
cycle. Its pressure rises immediately to the boiler pressure
The boiler can be either fire tube or water tube. In a fire tube boiler, the
heat flows through the tube, which is submerged in the water. And in the
water tube boiler, the water flows inside the tube and heat is added from
outside. Fire tube boiler is more common in industries than water tube.
And it is also very efficient.
The efficiency of the boiler can be calculated by the enthalpy of the steam
released divided by the heat input into the boiler. The heat input into the
boiler can be calculated by the same way as the Stirling engine, where the
quantity of fuel used can be multiplied with the calorific value of the fuel
and the result divided by the time consumed for that much quantity of fuel
to burn.

Conclusion
After completion of this project, our objective was completed as we were able
to grasp and thoroughly understand the working principle of different types of
steam engines and sterling engines and also the theoretical analysis on how to
calculate the performance of the stirling engine and the steam engine (piston)
such as the efficiency, net-work, power output, mean effective working pressure
and heat required to run the cycle. We also found out the limitation of the steam
engines and the sterling engines, together with their maximum recorded
efficiency.
Limitation of a steam engine:
- Requires superheated for a longer life span and optimum performance.
Quality affects the system adversely, which means that if there is
slight moisture content in the steam, it will be very harmful to the
piston or turbine as it causes cavitation and pitting corrosion.
- Due to losses such as leakages, the exact quantity of water is not
returned to the boiler, which was used to be converted to steam. This
reduces the efficiency of the cycle.

- During stroke cycle, the early opening of the valves causes steam loss
which again affects the efficiency. The cost of maintenance of the
boiler and turbine is not very economical and the capital cost is high.
Limitation of a Stirling engine:
- Requires a regenerator to achieve higher efficiency
- External losses influence the efficiency of Stirling engine for
example, imperfect transfer of heat from the source to the Stirling
engine. And also friction within the Stirling engine chamber and
pumping components reduce the efficiency of the steam.
- The capital cost is very high for installation and maintenance is high
but not as high as for steam engine.
Finally, we also found out that the efficiency of the Stirling engine is much
higher than the efficiency of the steam engine. Therefore, the performance of a
Stirling engine is much better than steam engine and dependent with the
efficiency.

Reference
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