Feasibility of using a Stirling engine-based micro-CHP to provide heat and electricity to a recreational sailing boat in different European ports

This study analyses the behaviour of a Stirling engine micro-cogeneration system that supplies a sailing boat and the corresponding weather conditions and sea surface temperatures (SST) along fifteen European ports. The micro combined heating and power (micro-CHP) system was bench tested to provide information for tuning the model. The simulations of the engine and of the whole system were conducted in the Trnsys simulation environment. It was found that the Stirling-based cogeneration system is a unique source of heat for the yacht, while the produced electricity is stored in batteries and used whenever it is needed. The engine was fully integrated within the HVAC system of the boat such that the domestic hot water (DHW) tank, the heating installation and the bank of batteries can obtain energy from the cogeneration system. The conclusions of this work are based on the annual system performance.