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A few of my homemade Stirling Engines

Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 2:01 am
by Aarongriffin81
This pop can stirling is the first stirling I have built. I followed a set of instructions to build this one. It uses a diaphram power piston.
Pop Can Stirling
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKp8YL2rVWU


This is a Walking Beam Stirling. It has a JB Weld Piston and pvc cylinder with an oil port for piston(yellow spot on cylinder). It operates its own water pump to circulate coolant. The pump is a pvc tube with a custom check valve at the bottom, inlet only, and a hollow piston with a check valve inside the piston allowing water up-through piston only. The water pump piston is a rifle cartridge, 30-30, with the neck cut off and primer removed. A common sheetrock screw was placed down through the cartridge and out through the primer hole. The screw created a seal against the cartridge and serves as a check valve. The same style cartridge/screw check valve is also used at the bottom of the pump. A wire was JB Welded into the rifle cartridge but not completely blocking the hole so water can still pass up-through the piston. As the piston is raised, it pulls water with it. And when the piston lowers, it allows water to move through the piston and also it cannot force water out the bottom of the pump due to the check valve at the bottom.
Walking Beam with Water Pump
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUnDjIyII4g


This Stirling Engine is built out of common household items. The top and bottom plates are made of Aluminum Flashing. The sides are made of a CD Spindle. The crank shaft is made of hanger wire. The piston is a diaphram made from a balloon. The flywheel is made of 2 small pieces of wood bolted to each other pinching the crank shaft which is easily adjusted for balancing the engine.
Clear sided Stirling
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GchM61SK ... re=related


This is a Walking Beam Stirling Engine that was modified for use on a 20" bax fan. It has a diaphram piston. It will run on 2 tea candles and with 3 tea candles it turns fast enough for usable fan speed. Its not an ideal setup but I was wanting to see what output power this size of engine would produce.
Walking Beam on 20" Box Fan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnlxN0FU ... re=channel

Re: A few of my homemade Stirling Engines

Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 10:10 pm
by nuten
The screw created a seal against the cartridge and serves as a check valve...............,/ :razz:

Re: A few of my homemade Stirling Engines

Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 10:10 am
by fullofhotair
Aarongriffin81,
I loved your big fan from the first time I saw it. 3 candles is pretty impressive. I have always preferred the Rothgoldberg set ups because that is more like something I could build. Very clever the way you designed it. Any new builds on the way?

Re: A few of my homemade Stirling Engines

Posted: Sun Aug 18, 2013 11:00 am
by Hawke
I like the water pump design. I saved that video when I first started thinking I would like to do something similar.

Re: A few of my homemade Stirling Engines

Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 5:19 am
by Ian S C
Take note of this and similar engines, they work, build one the same as other working engines, then you can try something a little different. Just work carefully, take your time, you might, but don't expect to finish in an hour or two. Be accurate with measurements, tins are free so don't worry if you need a few to practice on.
Ian S C