Stirling Engine

Alpha prototype under construction. See Open Stirling Engine blog for the current status of the first prototype of the 4 cylinder alpha configuration engine. This is a simplified version of the design as modeled in Google SketchUp

Current version of the prototype. Assembled version with piston rod guides. See blog for detailed status reports. Having problems with polyethylene bags developing leaks, so not running yet.

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

See Also

• Wikipedia: Stirling Engine
• Deluge Thermal Hydraulic Engine
• NASA 1988 Project.
• Patent (2007): Stirling engine with hydraulic output
• Mobile hydraulic power supply
• Wikipedia: Fluidyne engine
• Y-Engine