Multi-Fuel Burner for Stirling Applications

Compact, efficient, and sustainable electric power generators are needed to provide mobile electric power for deployable military bases. Stirling engines are attractive candidates to meet the Army’s future deployed electric power needs because they are quiet, efficient, and have the potential to be highly fuel-flexible due to the external combustion process used to drive the engine. For low-power engines (e) operated on heavy fuels such as JP-8 or diesel, fuel atomization and/or vaporization is a key aspect of burner design. Creare has previously developed fuel atomization technology compatible with JP-8 and diesel for small burners used for personal combat feeding. In the currently proposed project, we will modify this existing burner technology to add multi-fuel capability (JP-8, diesel, gasoline, and propane) and adapt the burner so that it will interface with a 750 We Stirling engine. In Phase I, we will demonstrate fuel delivery and combustion of the four fuels in a single proof-of-concept burner. During the Option phase, we will design and analyze a recuperator to maximize burner efficiency. In Phase II, we will develop a burner prototype compatible with an existing free-piston Stirling engine and characterize operability, efficiency, noise signature, and emissions with the four fuels.