Abstract
Stirling engines take effect on the environment problem arising on a terrestrial scale. The authors have developed the 1kW class Stirling engines for a home-use co-generation system, and have investigated a machine structure including crank mechanism, an electric generator and heat exchangers in order to improve the performance of Stirling engine generator for practical use. This paper describes the development process of the 1kW class Stirling engine generators. The demonstrator is designed as a γ type machine and two functional prototypes are α type machines. The functional prototype developed later is sealed hermetically because a flywheel is built in a crank case. The performance of functional prototype is the highest engine generator efficiency of 16.3% and the maximum electric power of 502W.
