[01] Kwasi-Effah C. C., Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria. [02] Obanor A. I., Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria. [03] Aisien F. A., Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Benin,, Benin City, Nigeria.

The flexible fuel Stirling engine technology lost its place in the market more than 100 years ago due to the more compact invention of the Otto and Diesel engines. Though the Otto and Diesel engine are non-flexible fuel engines, but their smaller nature or increased work ratio made them gain wider fittings in countless industrial applications. However, due to the current global warming, climate change and energy crises involved in non-renewable energy sources; interest in Stirling engines for mitigating these global energy crises is growing once again. Worldwide increase in renewable energy usage will greatly cater for the current energy demand and increase the future sustainability of energy usage. Since most country’s economy in the world is majorly powered by non-renewable fossil, it is a big challenge to overrun our economy with renewable energy. However, fostering a flexible technology to run on either source is a viable approach to balance the use of these sources depending on the systemic availability of a particular source of energy. This paper presents an overview of the technical developments and technology trend of the Stirling engine.

Stirling Engine, Technology Trend, Renewable Energy, Energy, Economic Crises, Global Warming

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