Search found 92 matches

by Alfista
Thu Jul 14, 2016 1:59 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Homemade Engine with Generator
Replies: 17
Views: 15344

Engine and generator under load


Here is a video of the engine running, charging a battery and with an 80 watt load. I changed the 8" flywheel to a 16" flywheel and changed the generator sprocket to 20T. [youtube]https://youtu.be/vmNw857wo3A[/youtube]

Now the ratio is 23:20.

Thanks for watching !

Wayne
by Alfista
Wed Jul 13, 2016 5:53 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Homemade Engine with Generator
Replies: 17
Views: 15344

Homemade Engine with Generator

Here is a video of my homemade Stirling engine with generator. The engine is based loosely on the Kouhoupt vertical design. It uses classic dimensions for the most part. Kouhoupt was a wonderful designer. The plans, as published, build an engine with a 1.125" bore. They are published by Villag...
by Alfista
Wed Jul 13, 2016 11:37 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Sunlight to Shade LTD?
Replies: 2
Views: 3246

Re: Sunlight to Shade LTD?

It is an intriguing idea but of the ones that I have seen, the underside would have good, free air flow beneath the bottom plate. I would also like to point out that liquids such as water and oil in particular are far superior to air in their ability to carry heat. A common approach is to solar hea...
by Alfista
Mon Jul 04, 2016 3:44 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: bigger stirling engine ever made
Replies: 3
Views: 4980

power of the "Caloric Ship Ericsson"

The power of the engine aboard the "Ericsson" was said to be about 600hp.
by Alfista
Mon Jul 04, 2016 5:39 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: bigger stirling engine ever made
Replies: 3
Views: 4980

Caloric Ship Ericsson ?

I am no expert on the history of these engines but I have read the first volume of Sier's history : Hot Air, Caloric and Stirling Engines. I do not recall an engine larger than the engine of the Caloric Ship Ericsson, four cylinders of 168 inches in diameter with a stroke of 6 feet.
by Alfista
Tue Jun 14, 2016 7:24 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: One Big Engine Vs Multi Cylinder Question
Replies: 8
Views: 6349

a little more about the pulse width modulation controller

Now I'm confused. I thought pulse width modulation improved performance no? Wellington, I am sorry if the post was confusing. Yes, indeed, some method of regulation may be just the thing to improve performance. PWM controllers are cheap to buy and fairly easy to build, at least in this range of pow...
by Alfista
Sat Jun 11, 2016 6:51 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: One Big Engine Vs Multi Cylinder Question
Replies: 8
Views: 6349

the problem with multiple cylinders and choosing a generator

How does building one large engine compare to building a multi cylinder engine? What are the pros and cons of each if your goal is power production? Wellington, I am not suggesting that multiple cylinder Stirling engines cannot work well and it may be difficult to say with certainty why Stirling en...
by Alfista
Sat May 28, 2016 7:17 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Choosing a DC Motor Question
Replies: 14
Views: 7449

Re: Choosing a DC Motor Question

Wellington, I will give you the benefit of my experience, and what is experience ? According to Mark Twain, it is "that marvelous thing that allows us to recognize our mistakes when we make them again." If you could see my collection of unused motors and useless generators, then you would...
by Alfista
Fri May 27, 2016 9:40 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Are LTD Stirlings Suitable for power generation?
Replies: 12
Views: 11732

Comparing heat input for LTD Stirlings vs solar steam

Here is some more data for comparison. First, my hat is off to anyone who is able to make either one of these systems work to produce useable power. I have made some successful solar steam powered models but building to larger sizes increases the challenge exponentially. I am presenting this to exp...
by Alfista
Fri May 27, 2016 6:18 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: General Design Scheme for 200 W Stirling Engine
Replies: 19
Views: 16491

Re: General Design Scheme for 200 W Stirling Engine

Burnit0017, I have the impression that you would like some feedback on your project. First, since you are using rod guides and diaphragm(s)? and scotch yokes, piston length is pretty irrelevant. It looks like a serious effort and a sturdy build. Can you say why you chose such a large difference in ...
by Alfista
Thu May 26, 2016 6:50 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Are LTD Stirlings Suitable for power generation?
Replies: 12
Views: 11732

Re: Are LTD Stirlings Suitable for power generation?

ok, so we've established that hundreds of watts is possible but 400ft of 4" pipe is an awful lot of pipe. I'm curious to know why people build such large machines rather than go for a 100w compact andy ross alpha machine if the goal is power output. Is there some kind of advantage to the ltd o...
by Alfista
Wed May 25, 2016 5:36 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: General Design Scheme for 200 W Stirling Engine
Replies: 19
Views: 16491

length of a piston which is 6 inches in diameter

Burnit0017, If you were making a piston rod guide, then you could make the piston as short in length as you would like. The longer it is, the better it tends to seal and the more friction it has. If I were buiding a 6" diameter piston with the normal connecting rod and wrist pin combination, I ...
by Alfista
Thu May 19, 2016 6:29 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: General Design Scheme for 200 W Stirling Engine
Replies: 19
Views: 16491

Successful design for a 200 W Stirling Engine

If you build a gamma engine using standard dimensions with a 6" power pistion, reasonably well built with the usual attention to friction and good sealing, The output should exceed 200W.
by Alfista
Mon May 16, 2016 5:34 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Designing for Torque
Replies: 12
Views: 8060

Re: Designing for Torque

Ian has hit the nail on the head. Gear reduction ! The Stirling cycle alternates pressure and vacuum in more or less equal measures. It is not ideal for building big torque. I would add that pressurization and larger size also adds torque. In theory, adding cylinders adds torque but that does not a...
by Alfista
Wed May 11, 2016 4:36 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: How to scale up a LTD Stirling engine?
Replies: 8
Views: 7581

CORRECTION

Alfista wrote: A really well built engine might get 8.5 %. So if you could calculate the absorbed btus, convert to watts and multiply by 8.5 to find power output in watts, .

Multiply by .085 as it is a percentage of the heat absorbed.