Manufacture Engineering And Management: A Study On The Efficiency Of Stirling Engine Powered By Solar Energy, Essay.

Literature Review

Discuss about the Manufacture Engineering and Management.

In this world due to increase of commercialization, usage of non-renewable sources of energy has been increased. It is not a good prospect for the future of the earth. Non-renewable sources of energy are considered as the exhaustible sources of energy. Day by day, the amount of this energy is decreasing. It is a point of concern as it also incurs huge pollution that causes damage to the environment. At global level, pollution is increasing due to excessive exploitation of the non-renewable sources of energy such as fossil fuels. Due to the consequence, the prices of these sources of energy are increasing. Hence, it is high time for the use of renewable sources of energy. The study is focused on the efficiency of Stirling engine that is powered by solar energy. It will forecasts the future of the use of Stirling engine in the commercial field.

Stirling engine acts on the power of solar energy. Stirling engine can be of both high temperature and low temperature. Stirling engine is more reliable and can be easily manufactured; hence, this report is conventional as it focuses on the projects that allows experimental research on the manufacturing, set up of the Stirling Engine, Powered by Solar Energy. This research has shed light upon the management of the Stirling Engine resulting into best possible outcome.

Literature review helps to accommodate the critical evaluation on the knowledge of the topic, on which research is being conducted. Moreover, it helps to assess the important points of the previous research findings on the concerned topic along with highlighting the weakness. In this study, literature review has been incorporated on the concept of the Stirling engine and importance of this engine. Recommendation has also been given so that performance can be enhanced resulting into improved service.

According to, Ahmadi et al. (2013), whether it is developed county or the developing one, the crisis of the energy is present worldwide. Population is increasing day by day; however, there is no chance of replenishing the resources. Moreover, Reddy et al. (2013), suggested that if the attrition of the resources would go continuously a morsel of the fossil fuel will not be present. Hence, it is the highest priority to go for the sustainable energy so that balance between non renewable and renewable resources can be maintained. Another complication of using fossil fuel excessively results in the environmental pollution like ozone depletion, green house effect etc. Significance of practising usage of renewable energy like wind mills, solar energy lies in this regard. In present scenario, traditional engines that work on the internal combustion are mostly used. Khan and Arsalan (2016), mentioned Stirling engines as the best alternative of those traditional heat engines. Stirling engine is kind of engine that works on the principle of compression and expansion of the working fluid in a cyclic order. Stirling engine works on the principle of converting the heat energy to a work mechanically. Hence, it is valid in case of using the solar power to produce the energy. Sa’ed and Tlili (2015), mentioned, Stirling engine as the mechanism that reciprocates the enclose working fluid and external combustion process. Stirling engine can provide more efficiency than the traditional steam engine. This engine has the capacity to utilize any kind of heat sources. As the cost of conventional energy is increasing according to the fluctuating economic condition the requirement for the application of energy that is cost effective and easily available has become mandatory. Stirling engine works on the closed working fluid in a reversible thermodynamic cycle. Working fluid moves between the cold and hot end of the cylinder; due to the continuous expansion and compression of the working fluid during the movement, constant volume occurs, that is too resulted by the fixed temperature of alternative cooling and heating. Therefore, solar energy can be used as the perfect source for the Stirling engine. Solar heat can be used as the input for the engine that can in turn reduce the carbon-di-oxide emission in the environment facilitating the prospects for the control of environment pollution.

Concept of Stirling Engine

It is impossible to deny the necessity of approaching towards renewable energy rather using the traditional fossil fuel energy. Reckless exploitation of the non-renewable sources without paying no attention for the future generation has led the situation where the scarcity of the energy will become the most concerned matter for the livelihood (Twidell and Weir 2015). To make people aware of the problem regrading the depletion of the resources government from the different countries across the globe has taken initiatives; one of the inclusions in those lists of initiative is the use of solar energy as the alternative energy, available from the fossil fuel. Hence, the significance of the Stirling Engine can be easily assessed from all this actions. Using solar energy massively as the source of the Stirling engine will definitely influence the reduction of the Green House Gas effect making the earth liveable for the upcoming centuries (Lee, Speight and Loyalka 2014). Another important aspect of this engine is that it requires fewer amounts of external efforts for the accomplishment of its operation. On addition, requirement of the maintenance is very low for this engine as well as it can use various heat producing sources ranges from mW to MW (Bassam 2013). Stirling energy involves working fluids that possess specific heat capacity, higher thermal conductivity, lower density and viscosity so that better performance can be obtained. However, there are some contradictions regarding the cost efficiency of the Stirling engines. Installation cost of this engine is higher comparison to the regular combustion engines. Moreover, appropriate knowledge, research is required along with the advanced technological support for the successful accomplishment. Another problem is requirement of the more space than other engines as Stirling engine is heavier and large in size.

Therefore, some suggestions can be put to enhance the quality of the performance of the Stirling engine. Working function of the Stirling engine is based on the difference of the high temper in two points that is why it would not work if the temperature is low. Stigka, Paravantis, and Mihalakakou (2014), suggested that principle of the Stirling engine, based on the LTD solar power can be implemented on the usual Stirling engines; it will allow the engine to work on the low temperature. Another recommendation is the use of molten salt in the solar powered Stirling engine so that it can work at night or in a bad when solar heat is not available properly. Finally more efforts must be given by the governments and other organizational bodies for the acknowledgement of the positive impact and usefulness of the solar powered Stirling engines in the society and environment.

Evaluation of Significance of the Stirling Engine

Research Questions

The research questions of the study are as follows:

• What is the future of Stirling solar powered engines in the commercial field?
• How the efficiency of the Stirling Engine can be improved for increased productivity?

The aim of the research is to redefine the concept of solar powered engines especially Stirling engines and to provide proper solutions to increase its efficiency. The main aim can be subdivided into few sub goals such as

• To improve the utility of the Stirling solar powered engines.
• To gain a proper understanding about solar powered engines.
• To explain the effectiveness of Stirling engines in commercial field.

Research methodology is defined as the systematic review of the research topic that is undertaken in the study for conducting the research is analysed by using qualitative and quantitative research methods. By implementing these techniques of research, the viewers will gather a deeper understanding of the theoretical content of the selected research topic (Tian and Zhao 2013). By using quantitative research methods, the numerical data that will be obtained from the findings and analysis will help the researcher in providing solutions to the research problem (Luo et al. 2016). At the end, the report will provide recommendations to increase the efficiency and utilization of Stirling solar powered engines. The research methodology consists of researches that are based on collection of secondary data from the credible sources of scholarly articles, peer reviewed journals, newspaper articles, books, etc. The literature review section will help the viewers in collecting a proper knowledge about the different concepts of utility of Stirling engine (Py et al. 2013).

In this research, there are two hypotheses that can be derived from the above research questions that are already developed. The two hypotheses can be categorised under H0 i.e. null hypothesis and H1 i.e. alternative hypothesis.

• H0: Stirling solar powered engines are considered as the trusted source of power in the future.
• H1: Stirling solar powered engines are not considered as the trusted source of power in the future.

The two mentioned hypothesis are based on the research questions, aims and sub goals. However, to prove the hypotheses, a detailed analysis of the solar powered engines should be studied. The secondary sources will provide relevant data about the theoretical knowledge of the mechanisms of the solar engines as well as the ways that can increase their level of efficiency (Kuravi et al. 2013). The study will focus on the utility of other combustible engines with Stirling solar powered engines. The qualitative and quantitative research will help in finding analysis of the research topic and prove that the null hypothesis i.e. solar power engines i.e. Stirling engines are considered as beneficial and trusted source of power in the future (Sa’ed and Tlili 2015).

For conducting the research, experimental set up is necessary in order to explain the mechanisms of solar engines along with Stirling engines. A LTD Stirling engine is different from a typical Stirling engine. An LTD Stirling engine has a warm side and a cool side. The difference in temperature is the mechanism of working of these engines. The difference is very small in a way it helps in broadening of selection of potential heat sources. The advantage of LTD Stirling engine is that it can run on the temperature difference between the surrounding air and the hand. However, it has no component for refrigeration. Currently, the LTD Stirling engines are used in small-scale purpose. Hence, it can be assumed that large-scale LTD Stirling engines are more efficient than small-scale engines when it is working in commercial purpose. The experiment will be conducted on large-scale Stirling engines. The effectiveness of the large scale engines are more than that of the small-scale Stirling engines that are currently using.

Research Aims and Objectives

The limitations of the experimental research are based on the research aims and objectives i.e. the efficiency of the LTD Stirling engine. The experimental set up of the Stirling engine explains that it is more beneficial than normal Stirling engines. The heat transfer in the engines is the main point of the advantage of these engines in practice. The manufacturing of large scale Stirling engines are not an easy task when compared to the manufacturing of small scale Stirling engines (Kongtragool 2013).

The results of the research prove that Stirling engines can be a better option when compared to other combustible engines. The research includes a variety of views of different authors of scholarly articles and peer reviewed journals regarding the advantages of Stirling engines over other engines (Ahmadi et al. 2013). The results of this research illustrates about the benefits and mechanisms of Stirling engine. It is pointed out that the solar engines are free from pollution and are very economical to use in the practical field. The null hypothesis is proved to be true i.e. Stirling engines are considered as the trusted sources of providing eco friendly power to the environment (Henry and Prasher 2014).

The outcome of the work is positive. It is related to the future prospects of the engine. The expected outcome supports that this type of engine are considered as effective heat engines that can be replaced in case of other combustible engines. It can be said that these engines are the future of serving power to the industries (Dunham et al. 2014). The research will mitigate the gap of the previous research that was conducted earlier. By pointing the gap in the previous literatures, the recommendations of effectiveness of the Stirling engines will be provided so that they can work properly in the near future.

The study that is being conducted is highly relevant. The information that are provided in the study will help the viewers in gaining a proper understanding of the different aspects of Stirling engines (Ahmadi et al. 2013). It illustrated that these engines are considered as future prospects of providing power to many sectors of industries. The cost of production of power from these engines might be high in initial times, but scientists are finding ways to reduce the cost of production of power from solar energy. The major advantage is that it is pollution free and is economical for use.

Methodology/Theoretical Content

A project planning along with Gant Chart is provided so that the progress of the research work can be traced in a proper way. The total work is proceeded within 88 days. The duration of the total work is explained in the Gantt chart. The whole project completion is divided into few categories such as project preparation, project execution, analysis & validation and project delivery. The project preparation requires 20 days for completion. Preparation of research proposal, research background and closing project preparation will be completed in 15 days, 4 days and 1 day. Project execution will take 20 days for proceeding into next work i.e. analysis and validation. Secondary data collection, formulating literature review and summary will take 5 days, 10 days and 5 days respectively. Again, analysis and validation will take 24 days to proceed the project into project delivery that will continue for 24 days. Content analysis, findings, result comparison and conclusion is completed within 12 days, 3 days, 4 days and 5 days consecutively. In the project delivery, reviewing draft, taking feedback, and final submission will take 16 days, 3 days and 5 days respectively.

Fig 1 Gantt Chart

(Source: Created by author)

Conclusion

The study proceeds with a detailed description of the working mechanisms of the Stirling engines along with its utility. The operational efficiency of these engines can be increased if they are properly used for the generation of power. Apart from that, the most important issue is the environmental concern. Usage of Stirling engines as the source of power is the most trusted way of protecting the environment from getting polluted, as there is no part of combustion. The working mechanism is totally different from the engines that are generating power from non-renewable sources of energy. However, it is seen that there are many researches that has been already conducted previously related to this research topic. Hence, this research will help in filling the gap of the earlier works.

References

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