TABLE OF CONTENTS The gamma-type Stirling engine can be mathematically described by the following parameters and variables:
V 1 = displacer swept volume
V 2 = piston swept volume
V D = dead volume
T H = hot space temperature
T C = cold space temperature
T D = dead space temperature = ( T H + T C) /2
= root mean cycle pressure = 
p b = external buffer pressure =
? = angular velocity of crankshaft
? = angle by which displacer crank leads piston crank
? = T C/ T H = ratio of temperatures of cold to hot space
? = V 2/ V 1 = ratio of piston swept volume to displacer swept volume
? = V D/ V 1 = dead volume ratio
?t = instantaneous angular position of piston crank
V = instantaneous total engine volume
p = instantaneous pressure throughout engine spaces
In spite of the finite-length connecting rods shown in Figure 10.1, a standard assumption of the Schmidt model is pure sinusoidal motion of the piston and displacer. This is a reasonable and tractable approximation of the motions in most real engines. The other Schmidt assumptions include an ideal gas as the working fluid; isothermal hot, cold, and dead spaces; uniform instantaneous pressure throughout all the engine spaces; and no leakage of working gas into...
