Constantan

Discussion on Stirling or "hot air" engines (all types)
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Ferraccio
Posts: 188
Joined: Thu Jan 27, 2011 10:57 am
Location: Italy

Constantan

Post by Ferraccio »

Have someone experience in use for thin foil-thin wires in constantan (Cu-Ni alloy, normally 60% Ni 40% Cu) for REGENERATOR?
Is used normally for electrical resistence of medium-low temperature (650-700°K).
vile_fly
Posts: 139
Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2011 9:53 am
Location: USA - Kansas City, Missouri

Re: Constantan

Post by vile_fly »

The only other alloy I heard of people using is aluminum-bronze alloys. I have no experience with either constantine or AL-Bronze alloys.
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Ferraccio
Posts: 188
Joined: Thu Jan 27, 2011 10:57 am
Location: Italy

Re: Constantan

Post by Ferraccio »

Constantan is a copper nickel alloy, nickel is not a good heat conductor, but copper is.
have large ductility, (so: allowable in thin sheets).
Have good quality in stainless, good (not excellent) strengh on high temperature.
Is used mainly for energy dumper, dissipates the heat to soften the curve of starting large electric motors, in this case is not a solution for energy savings, but it is very simple to apply (are simple bars, cheap, and being the start a temporary condition, the savings would not be fundamental, then the system is still largerly used, and it gets hot (up to red colour) under load without problems.
Is also used for measurement systems in low temperatures.
I found Chinese retailers but do not know what is reliable.
Is allowable quite only in/for electrical industries.
Seems excellent for regenerator use.
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