A 4-cylinder Stirling engine computer program with dynamic energy equations

A computer program for simulating a four-cylinder Stirling engine is presented. The thermodynamic model includes both continuity and energy equations and simplified, first-order momentum terms (flow resistance). Drive dynamics and vehicle load effects are included. The computer program includes a model of a hydrogen supply system to accelerate the engine. The simulation can generate, at the user's option, steady-state or transient data. Steady-state power and torque predictions compare well with experimental data over a wide range of engine speeds and pressures. Simulated acceleration data compare well with results from a simplified four-cylinder model that was previously developed by the authors. Complete flow charts are provided.