A prototype of micro Combined Heat & Power system（ or micro-CHP system） with an electric output of 4.8［W］ and a heat supply of 268［W］has been developed for home use by using a small Stirling engine to drive a DC generator, which serves as a starter motor as well. Water supplied to the cooler of the engine is heated by the cooling fins and then heated further by the exhaust gas, resulting in warm water which is outputted as the heat supply from this system. Although the electric output of this system is much lower than the required practical level and the overall efficiency is only about 45%, considering the simplified designs of the engine and the heat exchanger used in this system, it shows some potentials to be developed as a micro-CHP system for home use after optimizing both the engine and the heat exchanger.

小型スターリングエンジンを用いた，電気出力4．8W，給熱量268W の家庭用向け小型コージェネレーションシステムの構築を試みた。発電用DCモータはシステム起動時にはスターターモーターとして作動する。スターリングエンジンの冷却部に供する冷却水は冷却フィンにより加熱されたあと，燃焼室からの排ガスによりさらに加熱され，温水となって外部に給熱する。