6. Advantages and disadvantages of Stirling and Ericsson engines

In the Stirling engine, as there are no valves, the entire fluid in the machine is expanded. The exchangers therefore represent a large dead volume and their size must be limited, in contradiction with the fact that efficient heat transfer requires a large exchanger. In the Ericsson engine, due to the presence of valves, this problem does not exist.

In return for these advantages, the Ericsson engine, because of its valve train, has higher mechanical losses, higher valve pressure losses, increased noise, reduced reliability and greater complexity than the Stirling engine.