ABSTRACT
The efficiency of the ideal Sterling cycle is the same as that of a Carnot cycle operating between the same temperatures. The Sterling cycle was originally proposed by a Scottish minister, Reverend Robert Sterling, as an alternative to a steam engine. Sterling engines have recently received increased attention because they can utilize concentrated solar energy, which can be produced by parabolic concentrators. Since a Sterling engine is an external combustion engine, it can use any fuel or concentrated energy. Sterling engines can operate at high temperatures, typically between 600°C and 800°C, resulting in conversion efficiency of 30%–40%. Sterling engines have also recently been developed for cryogenic applications [1], and the advances in that field can be applied to solar-driven Sterling systems.
