Stirling Engine Blog 19 Feb 12 2013

I decided to draft up a project plan for remaining work in order to get back on track with the project. It is becoming difficult to juggle between the FYP, PhD application and continuing to work towards the degree and I hope that a project plan will allow me best optimise my time.

Additionally, I did some work on Umer Khan's program in order to try and understand it. I am having difficulty getting it to function correctly however. 

Project Plan

Hardware

Software

Flowmeter Buy 2 x ¾” straight compression couplings Plumb flowmeter (mount?) Thermocouples Identify TC sealant method Get TC’s from Thermo lab Install Engine discharge TC Install Engine return TC Install Marine HX Water in TC Install Marine HX  Water out TC Connect all TC to NI DAQ Pressure Transducer Get TK wiring diagram Wire sensor to power supply Thread seal fittings Attach pressure lines Mount in DIN rail box?

LabView Program Bring DAQ home Define program requirements Understand Umer Khan’s program Identify transferable components Program Milestones 1.       NI DAQ reading into LabView 2.       MicroMon data file reading into LabView 3.       Inputs defined and programmed 4.       Outputs defined and programmed 5.       Demonstrate Program stability 6.       Install system in test cell 7.       Capture live data 8.       Run Test

LabView Program Requirements

NI DAQ read in:

• Engine discharge TC
• Engine return TC
• Marine HX Water in TC
• Marine HX  Water out TC
• Pressure Transducer

Read from Measurement File:

• Power
• Fan Speed
• Exhaust Temp
• Pump Frequency

Inputs

• Calorific Value of Diesel (MJ/kg)
• Average Water Flow Rate (lpm)
• File Path (Read from Measurement File)

Outputs

• Heat Output (coolant mass flowrate x ΔT) in kW
• Gross Electrical Output (kW)
• Thermal Efficiency (Heat Output / Heat Input)
• Gross Electrical Efficiency (Electric Out / Heat Input)
• System Efficiency ([Heat output + Gross Electrical Output]/Heat Input)

Test Plan

• Run 4x efficiency tests for repeatability
• Attempt to vary coolant temperatures (up to ~60 celcius)? Run 2x tests

Week 1 (11-15^th Feb)

• Buy 2 x ¾” straight compression
• Bring DAQ home
• Get TC’s from Thermo lab
• Get TK wiring diagram
• Identify TC sealant method 

Week 2 (18-22^nd Feb)

Week 3 (25^th-1^st Feb)

Week 4 (4^th-8^th Mar)

Week 5 (8-15^th March End)