The project objective is the development of an innovative engine which could be used as a prime mover for micro- and mini-CHP applications with the following targets:

 

• Electric power output: 1-3 kW with a possibility of scaling up to few MW.

 

• Fuel or heat source: natural gas and concentrated solar thermal power.

 

• Thermal efficiency: not less than 40% of the Carnot efficiency, i.e. higher than 0.4(1-T_C/T_H) where T_C and T_H are the temperatures of the cooler and heater, respectively.

 

• Engine cost in mass production: several times less than the cost of the available Stirling type engines of the same power (200-500 €/kW versus 2.500 – 4.500 €/kW).

 

• Projected maintenance free interval: 50.000 hour.

 

• Environmentally safe working fluid, such as water, air, carbon dioxide.

 

• Applicable for micro-CHP systems for houses.

 

The main objective can be subdivided into the following tasks:

 

To quantitatively study the shortcoming of the conventional and novel regenerative type heat engines.

 

To perform a fundamental research of thermodynamics, heat transfer and fluid mechanical issues of the novel engines.

 

Construction and testing of an engine prototype to prove the viability of the new engine concept.