The impact of heat exchanger fouling on the optimum operation and maintenance of the Stirling engine

This paper focuses on the effect of heat exchanger fouling on the performance of the Stirling engine in combined heat and power (CHP) application. Fouling results from using biomass fuels and affects the heat exchanger that transfers heat into the engine. This heat exchanger is referred to as the heater. The heat exchanger that recovers heat from the flue gases is also affected by fouling. To determine the performance of the Stirling engine, a commercial Stirling analysis tool is applied together with models that have been developed for the heat transfer in the heater, regenerator and cooler of the engine. The Stirling engine model uses constant temperatures for the heat addition and rejection, with the theory of displacement engine as a basis. The fouling in the heat exchanger is taken into account by using a fouling factor that corresponds with the degradation in the total heat transfer coefficient. The Stirling engine model together with the model for heat exchanger fouling makes it possible to estimate the effect of fouling on the performance of the Stirling engine. A cost model is developed for the engine to translate changes in performance into economy in CHP operation. In the studied application, the Stirling engine is operated by the heat demand. Together with the selected control method, performance and cost models compose a tool for the simulation and optimization of the system. The use of the models to determine the optimal cleaning interval of the heat exchanger surfaces is considered.