Search found 2219 matches

by Ian S C
Wed Dec 22, 2010 7:25 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Photo-voltiac cells vs. free-piston stirling generators...
Replies: 10
Views: 8607

Re: Photo-voltiac cells vs. free-piston stirling generators.

Sorry Theropod, my mistake, there are stirling engines out there some were, must look it up. Thats pretty good out put for a thermocouple power supply. ian S C
by Ian S C
Wed Dec 22, 2010 6:19 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Photo-voltiac cells vs. free-piston stirling generators...
Replies: 10
Views: 8607

Re: Photo-voltiac cells vs. free-piston stirling generators.

NASA, the Voyager space craft that left earth about 30 years ago, they have a nuclear heat source, thats still got 100 years or so of life, I heard a n interveiw with a NASA scientist a few months ago, they are still in contact, the time for the radio signals is in hours- or it may be days now. The ...
by Ian S C
Sat Dec 18, 2010 6:35 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Photo-voltiac cells vs. free-piston stirling generators...
Replies: 10
Views: 8607

Re: Photo-voltiac cells vs. free-piston stirling generators.

Theropod2, I think all means of power generation have got to be used, PV, solar Stirling, wind power and tidal generation. I don't think its a good idea to grow crops to make fuel to generate electricity, or make automotive fuel. Maybe a new generation of nuclear generators will help, maybe small on...
by Ian S C
Sat Dec 18, 2010 4:01 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Alpha type engine Idea/need input
Replies: 31
Views: 22415

Re: Alpha type engine Idea/need input

Putting the power cylinder at the cold end ensures the greatest temperature difference, every little bit is important. Ian S C
by Ian S C
Fri Dec 17, 2010 4:11 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Photo-voltiac cells vs. free-piston stirling generators...
Replies: 10
Views: 8607

Re: Photo-voltiac cells vs. free-piston stirling generators.

PKM, thats the sort of thing, its going to get that solar hot water, and electricity will be required at least on all new houses, and comercial buildings. Solar stirling engines I imagine being used in large installations, could North Africa supply the power for most of Europe, with stations right a...
by Ian S C
Fri Dec 17, 2010 3:58 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Alpha type engine Idea/need input
Replies: 31
Views: 22415

Re: Alpha type engine Idea/need input

The first plans i came across , over 20 yrs ago, was in a 1944 copy of Mechanics inc English Mechanics&the World of Science, The Amature Mechanic & work. the motor is a gamma type, with the take of port to the power cylinder half way along the displacer cylinder, I started to build it, then ...
by Ian S C
Thu Dec 16, 2010 5:40 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Alpha type engine Idea/need input
Replies: 31
Views: 22415

Re: Alpha type engine Idea/need input

derwood, I assume that you have read some of the books on stirling engines by authors such as: Robert Sier, James G. Rizzo, Andy Ross, Roy Darlington, and Boyd's Tin Can Stirlings. Its worth looking at Hirata's stirling engine (web site) Lets build model stirling engines. I suppose you have built a ...
by Ian S C
Wed Dec 15, 2010 2:40 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Photo-voltiac cells vs. free-piston stirling generators...
Replies: 10
Views: 8607

Re: Photo-voltiac cells vs. free-piston stirling generators.

I'm waiting for some one to come up with a paint system for roof paint/PV system, paint the whole roof, it would not need to be highly efficient because of the large area---never say never. Ian S C
by Ian S C
Wed Dec 15, 2010 2:27 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Alpha type engine Idea/need input
Replies: 31
Views: 22415

Re: Alpha type engine Idea/need input

Different!! I don't think it would work. Get rid of the cold cylinder, the power cylinder is the cold cylinder. To the hot side/ bottom in this case of the hot cylinder attach a hot cap as I discribed before. Both cylinders should be the same capacity, the easyest way is to have the same bore and st...
by Ian S C
Tue Dec 14, 2010 3:59 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Alpha type engine Idea/need input
Replies: 31
Views: 22415

Re: Alpha type engine Idea/need input

derwood, you could make a V type motor, one cylinder with a hot cap the other one cold. The hot one needs a hot cap,Heylandt Crown on the piston. On a cylinder of the size your using (VW), you should have a tubular heat exchanger, that will involve brazing in proberbly in excess of twenty tubes in t...
by Ian S C
Tue Dec 14, 2010 3:41 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Stupid Question
Replies: 1
Views: 3240

Re: Stupid Question

derwood, you should'nt have too much problem heating the hot cylinder a long as you have a suitable Heylandt crown on the hot piston, this is a light weight (preferably thin stainless steel) bit similar of similar construction to a displacer in other engines, this keeps the bulk of the heat away fro...
by Ian S C
Mon Dec 06, 2010 2:12 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Teflon rod as piston material?
Replies: 2
Views: 4627

Re: Teflon rod as piston material?

If you'v ever pulled a car shock absorber to bits (great resource of parts for engines)you may find a plastic piston ring, some have cast iron rings, with some teflon sheet about 1mm thick, make a strip the width required and say 6mm longer than the circumference, then either cut the end diagonally,...
by Ian S C
Sun Dec 05, 2010 12:48 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: V-twin compressor pump...
Replies: 64
Views: 41313

Re: V-twin compressor pump...

Davesisk, apparently in the UK the cans that 'Tango' soft drink comes in are made of stainless steel, James G. Rizzo collects them on visits from Malta. Ian S C
by Ian S C
Sun Dec 05, 2010 12:35 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Absolute Newbissimo question.
Replies: 7
Views: 5952

Re: Absolute Newbissimo question.

Hi Mr Zeph,I saw the Ringbom engine mentioned, that can be quite a simple engine, but unless you get it spot on (I have'nt yet), it can be quite noisy, the most famous engine of this type is 'TAPPER', I'v built 3 of them, but would really like to know the correct ratio between the displacer and the ...