Guided Pairwise Variable Optimization Method Applied to an Alpha-Type Stirling Engine

Islas-Pereda, S.; Velázquez-Limón, N.; Beltran-Chacon, Ricardo; Aguilar-Jiménez, J. A.; López-Zavala, R.

doi:10.3390/pr14040620

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Guided Pairwise Variable Optimization Method Applied to an Alpha-Type Stirling Engine

by

S. Islas-Pereda

^1,*

,

N. Velázquez-Limón

¹

,

Ricardo Beltran-Chacon

²

,

J. A. Aguilar-Jiménez

¹

and

R. López-Zavala

¹

Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Av. Álvaro Obregón S/N, Colonia Nueva, Mexicali C.P. 21100, Baja California, Mexico

²

Centro de Investigación en Materiales Avanzados, S. C., CIMAV, Miguel de Cervantes 120, Complejo Industrial Chihuahua, Chihuahua C.P. 31136, Chihuahua, Mexico

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Processes 2026, 14(4), 620; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr14040620

Submission received: 11 January 2026 / Revised: 2 February 2026 / Accepted: 3 February 2026 / Published: 10 February 2026

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Numerical Modeling and Optimization of Fluid Flow in Engines)

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Abstract

This study presents a guided pairwise variable optimization methodology applied to an Alpha-type Stirling engine to enhance its efficiency by optimizing its design parameters. The study was conducted using a second-order numerical model implemented in the MATLAB platform (R2019a). The proposed methodology, referred to as Guided Pairwise Variable Optimization (G.I.P.O.), is based on the identification, categorization, and prioritization of interactions between pairs of variables, establishing guidelines for conducting parametric explorations that allow the proper selection of the design dimensions of the Stirling engine variables. The piston stroke, cylinder diameter, piston crown length, phase angle between cylinders, regenerator length and diameter, and the length and diameter of the heater and cooler tubes were analyzed. This methodology resulted in a 4.55% increase in efficiency compared to univariate optimization techniques, demonstrating its effectiveness in reducing computational complexity while improving system performance.

Keywords: Stirling engine; alpha-type; optimization; numerical simulation

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MDPI and ACS Style

Islas-Pereda, S.; Velázquez-Limón, N.; Beltran-Chacon, R.; Aguilar-Jiménez, J.A.; López-Zavala, R. Guided Pairwise Variable Optimization Method Applied to an Alpha-Type Stirling Engine. Processes 2026, 14, 620. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr14040620

AMA Style

Islas-Pereda S, Velázquez-Limón N, Beltran-Chacon R, Aguilar-Jiménez JA, López-Zavala R. Guided Pairwise Variable Optimization Method Applied to an Alpha-Type Stirling Engine. Processes. 2026; 14(4):620. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr14040620

Chicago/Turabian Style

Islas-Pereda, S., N. Velázquez-Limón, Ricardo Beltran-Chacon, J. A. Aguilar-Jiménez, and R. López-Zavala. 2026. "Guided Pairwise Variable Optimization Method Applied to an Alpha-Type Stirling Engine" Processes 14, no. 4: 620. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr14040620

APA Style

Islas-Pereda, S., Velázquez-Limón, N., Beltran-Chacon, R., Aguilar-Jiménez, J. A., & López-Zavala, R. (2026). Guided Pairwise Variable Optimization Method Applied to an Alpha-Type Stirling Engine. Processes, 14(4), 620. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr14040620

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

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Guided Pairwise Variable Optimization Method Applied to an Alpha-Type Stirling Engine

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