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Author Topic: Stirling Engine.  (Read 5768 times)

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  • Tony Bird
  • Location: Cardiff, South Wales, UK
Stirling Engine.
« on: December 16, 2023, 11:35:32 am »
Hi,

Recently while working on a Stuart Turner Henley steam launch I have been playing with a Stirling engine.  I am no expert on Stirling engines, I have never made one, but have on occasion managed to some belonging to a friend working. This engine was a non runner and to be honest I didn't think it would work as it wasn't made that well.  Well after replacing some parts and assembling I wasn't surprised when it didn't; at which point it was nearly destined to end up in a box of 'might come in useful bits.' But I thought; give it one more go, which is just as well as I had forgotten to make a hole in a gasket to connect the displacer to the power cylinder! This corrected first spin it worked!!!

Anyway a bit of a video of playing this afternoon.

https://youtu.be/OgGfoSq8z8A?si=VkJenCJAqYRoY57Y

Have Great Christmas and a Healthy New Year.
Tony.
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Re: Stirling Engine.
« Reply #1 on: April 29, 2024, 09:18:19 am »
Tony:

I just managed to find your post on the Stirling.

Well done; and I really like the cooling coil idea.

I may try it on a couple of mine.

Cheers,
Charlie
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Re: Stirling Engine.
« Reply #2 on: April 29, 2024, 02:33:26 pm »
Very nice work. The water cooling coil is a nice solution, but I wonder if it would run longer with air cooling if you used only a simple alcohol burner? Those ceramic gas burners are extremely hot. I also wonder if that plastic tube "linkage" is robbing a bit of power, thus requiring more heat; would be simple to make a 2-part jointed connecting rod.
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Re: Stirling Engine.
« Reply #3 on: April 30, 2024, 02:15:25 am »
Hi,

The water cooling coil is a nice solution, but I wonder if it would run longer with air cooling if you used only a simple alcohol burner? Those ceramic gas burners are extremely hot.

You are possibly correct, I have little knowledge of Stirling engines, I have only tried powering the engine with a ceramic burner because it is easy to control, using a tachometer varying the heat allowed the rpm to go from around 200 to just over 900. 

I also wonder if that plastic tube "linkage" is robbing a bit of power, thus requiring more heat; would be simple to make a 2-part jointed connecting rod.

This interesting type of coupling was what was fitted to the engine when it was given to me, I didn't think it would work; but it did, with seemingly little friction. You are probably correct a hinged linkage would need less effort to operate, but I rather like the different/unique? alternative.

Take care Tony.
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Re: Stirling Engine.
« Reply #4 on: April 30, 2024, 06:42:55 am »
Nice work, Tony..!!!
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