First Sterling Finally Running

Discussion on Stirling or "hot air" engines (all types)
mhafele
Posts: 16
Joined: Sun Oct 08, 2017 10:27 am

First Sterling Finally Running

Post by mhafele »

Runs good with propane torch. Any tips on running with less heat? Or how to get it to run longer without over heating?

Image

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
mhafele
Posts: 16
Joined: Sun Oct 08, 2017 10:27 am

Re: RE: First Sterling Finally Running

Post by mhafele »

mhafele wrote:Runs good with propane torch. Any tips on running with less heat? Or how to get it to run longer without over heating?

Image

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
Here is video link.
https://youtu.be/oOg6BuUzP78

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
thanh-cuibap
Posts: 174
Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2016 8:09 am
Location: Việt Nam

Re: First Sterling Finally Running

Post by thanh-cuibap »

Hi mhafele !
1 / hot cap should be as thin as possible ( thickness of hot cap my stirling :about = 0.5 mm )
2 / between hot and cold zone should be insulation ( insulation :you can use teflon...)
Photo0258.jpg
Photo0258.jpg (298.58 KiB) Viewed 10318 times
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e850NKFEFW4
Ian S C
Posts: 2218
Joined: Thu Dec 02, 2010 5:15 am
Location: New Zealand

Re: First Sterling Finally Running

Post by Ian S C »

You could try a spirit burner with a small wick.
It's difficult with this type of motor lay out, but a belt driven fan can work well.
Ian S C
Administrator
Owner
Owner
Posts: 94
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2006 9:04 pm

Re: First Sterling Finally Running

Post by Administrator »

That is a beauty! Absolutely.

Darryl
Trevor
Posts: 228
Joined: Sun Nov 06, 2016 4:07 am

Re: First Sterling Finally Running

Post by Trevor »

High mhafele
Damn nice engine you built - It appears you do have insulation between the hot and cold side of the engine.
I think that the cooling area (assuming it is aluminium) is a little small. With that much heat the cooling fins can't get rid of the heat. You could try using a small fan next to cooling side or make a water jacket instead of fins.
I do love the way you have made the engine with the generator - Well Done
Regards Trev
Ian S C
Posts: 2218
Joined: Thu Dec 02, 2010 5:15 am
Location: New Zealand

Re: First Sterling Finally Running

Post by Ian S C »

With a generator on the motor, it I possible to use a small electric fan from a computer, but these are generally 12V. one of my motors has one fitted to it's radiator.
Ian S C
[img]
Test 005 (640x480).jpg
Test 005 (640x480).jpg (249.99 KiB) Viewed 10289 times
[/img]
cbstirling2
Posts: 156
Joined: Sat Dec 17, 2016 9:35 pm

Re: First Sterling Finally Running

Post by cbstirling2 »

Of my Stirlings, the one that can run and run is an alpha in a V layout. This keeps the cold cold and the hot hot.

Gamma layout is a poor one. Alpha came later and let's face it. It is more advanced. Why monkey with poor designs?
CBStirling2
Ian S C
Posts: 2218
Joined: Thu Dec 02, 2010 5:15 am
Location: New Zealand

Re: First Sterling Finally Running

Post by Ian S C »

So here is my ALPHA motor, similar power out put to the Beta above, but about twenty years newer. The steel cylinder head has been replaced with an aluminium one, and the water jackets are gone(they never were used, it would go all day without over heating), these are replaced with aluminium fins.
Ian S C
[img]
Test 008 (640x480).jpg
Test 008 (640x480).jpg (185.55 KiB) Viewed 10203 times
[/img]
cbstirling2
Posts: 156
Joined: Sat Dec 17, 2016 9:35 pm

Re: First Sterling Finally Running

Post by cbstirling2 »

Have the model be vertical with hot side down. Less friction.
CBStirling2
Ian S C
Posts: 2218
Joined: Thu Dec 02, 2010 5:15 am
Location: New Zealand

Re: First Sterling Finally Running

Post by Ian S C »

With a ring burner with the motor vertical with the hot end up, the heat rises, easier to keep the cold end cool.
This is my free piston motor, it's a bit rough, it's been modified a number of times. Burner at the top.
Ian S C
[img]
DSC00839 (640x480).jpg
DSC00839 (640x480).jpg (190.39 KiB) Viewed 10125 times
[/img]
Trevor
Posts: 228
Joined: Sun Nov 06, 2016 4:07 am

Re: First Sterling Finally Running

Post by Trevor »

By God! It's beautiful
Ian S C
Posts: 2218
Joined: Thu Dec 02, 2010 5:15 am
Location: New Zealand

Re: First Sterling Finally Running

Post by Ian S C »

I wouldn't exactly say beautiful, it usually works, but not really fast enough, the maximum speed is about 1000 hz, and I would like 3000 hz, it does generate a little power, enough to run the radio, but the low frequency AC current takes a fair bit of smoothing to get a DC current without too much AC noise on the radio.
Ian S C
mhafele
Posts: 16
Joined: Sun Oct 08, 2017 10:27 am

Re: First Sterling Finally Running

Post by mhafele »

Did some tweaking and reached 6500 rpm. Until the hot cap blew off. Was held in with high temp lock tight but I was using propane torch. Guessing it got to hot.Image

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
Ian S C
Posts: 2218
Joined: Thu Dec 02, 2010 5:15 am
Location: New Zealand

Re: First Sterling Finally Running

Post by Ian S C »

That's excellent speed, just needs a bit of engineering to redesign the hot end. If you haven't broken something, you are not really trying hard enough, the hot end probably needs to be brazed into the flange, what is the hot cap made of?
Ian S C
Post Reply