Stirlingengineforum.com

I agree with everything Stephan has said, and I would like to add one more thing. The power-piston ring-seal is dynamic, and must seal while sliding in the cylinder. The way to get more power from the same size of engine is to go to higher pressures, but leakage past the power piston seals results i...

Sorry, jesterthought, I hadn't read your post yet. Two separate guys independently invented the telephone at the same time. Bell patented it first, can't remember the name of the other guy. He probably was headed out to the patent office before Bell, but first he had to drive his wife to the store i...

I recall a patent about 100 years old using oval gears to increase dwell time of a double acting steam piston. I Googled "oval gears' and one link looked useful: http://decidedlyodd.com/cw/cs285/log.html As for camming, I would start the first prototype with a vertical displacer (for visualizat...

Stirlings are safer than steam engines, and were invented because of steam boiler explosions in the early days. The problem is that that at a lower pressure, you must have a bigger engine to achieve the same power. Dustin made a 2-1/2 HP Gamma Stirling, which is roughly equal to the power of a gasol...

There are so many options depending on what your goals and preferred compromises are. If you want 4 power pistons... Having a single-throw crankshaft means you must use a cylinder layout that resembles a 4-spoke wheel. having a 2-throw crank means you must use a flat four layout similar to a VW bug ...

I hadn't thought of this before, but I think its worth consideration. I've worked with liquid nitrogen (LN2) and its very expensive. It is transported in a vacuumed double wall thermos container. A small amount of LN2 would make a large volume of cold gas, and coupled with a folding solar dish, it w...

I "think" LTD is low-temperature-difference. If you look at picture galleries, the LTD Stirlings dont make much power (can run on the heat of your hand or a cup of coffee!). They need to emphasize heat exchange, so the displacer cylinder is a pancake. Why can't the hot and cold side be two...

Here's an E-mail I recently wrote: "Dear sir, I am very pleased to find your very interesting site. I believe I may have some answers about your Gramophone for your consideration, which I think is a "Gamma". http://www.dself.dsl.pipex.com/MUSEUM/COMMS/hotairgramophone/hotairgramophone...