We consider an optimal control problem for a model of a Stirling engine that is actively controlled through its displacer piston motion. The framework of optimal periodic control (OPC) is used as the setting for this active control problem. We use the idealized isothermal Schmidt model for the system dynamics and formulate the control problem so as to maximize mechanical power output while trading off a penalty on control (displacer motion) effort. An iterative first-order algorithm is used to obtain the optimal periodic motion of the engine and control input. We show that optimal motion is typically nonsinusoidal with significant higher harmonic content, and that a significant increase in the power output of the engine is possible through the optimal scheduling of the displacer motion. These results indicate that OPC may provide a framework for a large class of energy conversion and harvesting problems in which active actuation is available.
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July 2015
Research-Article
Optimal Periodic Control of an Ideal Stirling Engine Model
Mitchel Craun,
Mitchel Craun
1
Mechanical Engineering,
e-mail: craun@umail.ucsb.edu
University of California
, Santa Barbara,Santa Barbara, CA 93106
e-mail: craun@umail.ucsb.edu
1Corresponding author.
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Bassam Bamieh
Bassam Bamieh
Mechanical Engineering,
University of California
, Santa Barbara,Santa Barbara, CA 93106
Search for other works by this author on:
Mitchel Craun
Mechanical Engineering,
e-mail: craun@umail.ucsb.edu
University of California
, Santa Barbara,Santa Barbara, CA 93106
e-mail: craun@umail.ucsb.edu
Bassam Bamieh
Mechanical Engineering,
University of California
, Santa Barbara,Santa Barbara, CA 93106
1Corresponding author.
Contributed by the Dynamic Systems Division of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF DYNAMIC SYSTEMS, MEASUREMENT, AND CONTROL. Manuscript received August 28, 2013; final manuscript received December 22, 2014; published online March 4, 2015. Assoc. Editor: John B. Ferris.
J. Dyn. Sys., Meas., Control. Jul 2015, 137(7): 071002 (10 pages)
Published Online: July 1, 2015
Article history
Received:
August 28, 2013
Revision Received:
December 22, 2014
Online:
March 4, 2015
Citation
Craun, M., and Bamieh, B. (July 1, 2015). "Optimal Periodic Control of an Ideal Stirling Engine Model." ASME. J. Dyn. Sys., Meas., Control. July 2015; 137(7): 071002. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4029682
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