抄録
As a power source for local electric supply in developing countries, Stirling engine has received keen interest due to its high thermal efficiency and fuel diversity. In this study, characteristics of a metal knit burner, which gives a non-swirl-type tubular flame, have been investigated and compared with those of a swirl-type tubular flame burner. Results show that in a case of heating a simple cylindrical head, the metal knit burner has superior performance due to its radiative heat transfer from the heated metal knit surface and increased convective heat transfer rate though a thinner thermal boundary layer caused by normal attack of the burned gas on the surface. However, in a case of heating a cylindrical head with fins of the present Stirling engine, the swirl-type tubular flame burner has a higher maximum thermal efficiency of 10% against 7% of the metal knit burner for the electric power generation.
