Stirling Engine: Difference between revisions
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=Assessment= | =Assessment= | ||
From MJ - Regarding the Stirling engine, that is not one of our technologies, so we are less interested in that - unless we are convinced that a practical model that can put out at least 100 watts of usable power from a small solar concentrator or other heat source can be made practical. I understand that Stirling engines are more challenging to make work than modern steam engines based on the track record that stirling engines never gained wide use, while steam engines were the backbone of the industrial revolution. For which reason we are pursuing a modern version of a historically disruptive technology - the modern steam engine. We are currently building the [[Hadden_Engine]]. However, I am quite open to collaboration on the stirling if you can convince me , based on technical merit, that we can have a reliable product within a 3 year time frame that meets OSE specifications of lifetime design and low cost. This is possible but more challenging than the modern steam engine route. However, Dean Kamen's third world steam engine work appears to show that the feasibility is there - the question being - is it sufficiently simple, cost effective, and robust to meet [[OSE Specifications]]. | From MJ - Regarding the Stirling engine, that is not one of our technologies, so we are less interested in that - unless we are convinced that a practical model that can put out at least 100 watts of usable power from a small solar concentrator or other heat source can be made practical. I understand that Stirling engines are more challenging to make work than modern steam engines based on the track record that stirling engines never gained wide use, while steam engines were the backbone of the industrial revolution. For which reason we are pursuing a modern version of a historically disruptive technology - the modern steam engine. We are currently building the [[Hadden_Engine]]. However, I am quite open to collaboration on the stirling if you can convince me , based on technical merit, that we can have a reliable product within a 3 year time frame that meets OSE specifications of lifetime design and low cost. This is possible but more challenging than the modern steam engine route. However, Dean Kamen's third world steam engine work appears to show that the feasibility is there - the question being - is it sufficiently simple, cost effective, and robust to meet [[OSE Specifications]]. - Nov 13, 2012 | ||
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
Revision as of 15:24, 14 November 2012
Overview
A Stirling Engine can operate quietly from any heat source to generate mechanical power (work). It operates by operates by cyclic compression and expansion of air or other gas, the working fluid, at different temperature levels such that there is a net conversion of heat energy to mechanical work. It can be coupled directly to a hydraulic transmission, although only a handful of projects have explored this possibility over the decades.
Heat sources include Solar Concentration power as well as biomass.
See also Sterling Engine/Ericsson Engine
Applications and Product Ecology
- In future versions of the GVCS, such a concept may be used for the Power Cube
- can be coupled to water pumps for irrigation
- biomass: heat can be derived from combustion or from pyrolysis, where biochar would be a useful, carbon-negative byproduct. With biomass-powered Stirling engine, one single engine could handle all sorts of different biomass, whether solid, liquid or gaseous. There is no need for tedious clean-up of fuel.
- liquid piston Stirling engine
Projects
Open Source Stirling Engines
- Open Stirling Engine
- Stirling Engine Open Sourcing Projects
- Energy and Sterling Engines
- Stirling Engine Generator Development
- Understanding Sterling Engines
Assessment
From MJ - Regarding the Stirling engine, that is not one of our technologies, so we are less interested in that - unless we are convinced that a practical model that can put out at least 100 watts of usable power from a small solar concentrator or other heat source can be made practical. I understand that Stirling engines are more challenging to make work than modern steam engines based on the track record that stirling engines never gained wide use, while steam engines were the backbone of the industrial revolution. For which reason we are pursuing a modern version of a historically disruptive technology - the modern steam engine. We are currently building the Hadden_Engine. However, I am quite open to collaboration on the stirling if you can convince me , based on technical merit, that we can have a reliable product within a 3 year time frame that meets OSE specifications of lifetime design and low cost. This is possible but more challenging than the modern steam engine route. However, Dean Kamen's third world steam engine work appears to show that the feasibility is there - the question being - is it sufficiently simple, cost effective, and robust to meet OSE Specifications. - Nov 13, 2012