Search found 16 matches

by dalekh
Thu May 20, 2010 1:25 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Better engine
Replies: 7
Views: 7585

Re: Better engine

Rammstein, I am curious about your experience of the cooling phase providing more power than the heating phase. I don't know, but I wouldn't assume that this was the result of more power being produced in that phase. It may have something to do with other aspects of your engine, like the weight of t...
by dalekh
Tue May 18, 2010 10:50 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Stirling Turbine
Replies: 48
Views: 44305

Re: Stirling Turbine

So, tom peat, being a non-mathematician I googled Klein bottle. Yea, that's interesting. Actually, they are very interesting and I just spent my entire lunch hour messing around with them and trying to understand them. Don't know what they have to do with Stirlings, but I guess that is the point of ...
by dalekh
Sat May 15, 2010 1:19 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: 100 LB Propane Tank as Main Displacer "Open Source"
Replies: 5
Views: 8028

Re: 100 LB Propane Tank as Main Displacer "Open Source"

Roger, I really like your idea - open source design, collaborative effort, sticking to the DIY approach. I am no expert, so can't answer your questions, but I think the power output issue is an important one to have addressed early on, i.e does the math work? I am looking forward to watching this di...
by dalekh
Wed Feb 10, 2010 6:33 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Stirling Turbine
Replies: 48
Views: 44305

Re: Stirling Turbine

Tom, I am certain you are right about the cheap plastic turbine - still tempting to mess with because it's already there. However, it is probably so ineffecient that would be hard to get any useful info from it. So, trying to see how much compression is possible with a displacer...with my tin can St...
by dalekh
Tue Feb 09, 2010 2:01 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Stirling Turbine
Replies: 48
Views: 44305

Re: Stirling Turbine

Tom, This is a tough topic to get info on. Most of what I am finding is simple overview or theoretical with math mostly outside my "comfort zone"! I did find this patent application which goes into some detail about air cycle. http://www.faqs.org/patents/app/20090133431 Two valuable bits o...
by dalekh
Tue Feb 09, 2010 12:49 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Stirling Turbine
Replies: 48
Views: 44305

Re: Stirling Turbine

Tom, I found a "turbine" of sorts - on a home carpet cleaning machine. The turbine (or fan) is driven by air pulled through it by the vacuum. This then drives a cleaning brush (for upholstery or whatever). This might be useful as a model to play with on this idea. Of course, one can get in...
by dalekh
Mon Feb 08, 2010 12:41 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: TODO
Replies: 2
Views: 5439

Re: Which is better - Big cylinder or lots of cylinders

This sounds interesting. You must have some good modeling skills if a radial design fits into the KISS principle for you. And I mean no disrespect. I'm certainly not there, but I would love to see your design. Best of luck,

Dale.
by dalekh
Mon Feb 08, 2010 12:01 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Stirling Turbine
Replies: 48
Views: 44305

Re: Stirling Turbine

Tom, Wow, the link is, uh, interesting. There is a lot to learn about this idea of yours on that thread. I haven't had time to get very far on the air cycle or turbine ref. yet. After reading the other thread, I think the true challenge is regarding whether there is an actual temp. difference betwee...
by dalekh
Tue Jan 26, 2010 4:46 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: IT RUNS!!
Replies: 4
Views: 7926

Re: IT RUNS!!

Hey, thanks for acknowledging. I don't know if you checked out my video or not. I put another video up. I built a second displacer/power cylinder and attached it to the same flywheel and beam. I increased the diameter of the displacer piston so that the clearance is less than 1/8" all around. I...
by dalekh
Sun Jan 24, 2010 10:11 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Stirling Turbine
Replies: 48
Views: 44305

Re: Stirling Turbine

Tom, Not ignoring you. You are covering a lot of ground and I'm a bit behind you on on all this. I will see what I can come up with about using turbines for cooling - principles as opposed to "how it's done on airliners, etc.". Your idea is starting to make some sense to me. I looked in an...
by dalekh
Thu Jan 21, 2010 12:45 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Stirling Turbine
Replies: 48
Views: 44305

Re: Stirling Turbine

I have several thoughts so far. As I study your design it appears that achieving the TD you will need is going to be difficult. You did state that a "starter" will be needed and I think it will need to be substantial. I'll have to do some study on this type of refrigeration but I believe v...
by dalekh
Tue Jan 19, 2010 10:27 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Stirling Turbine
Replies: 48
Views: 44305

Re: Stirling Turbine

Tom, That helps. I am an HVAC guy and actually found out about stirling engines when researching cooling systems. Now I'll have to think through your idea so the cycle makes sense. The concept of getting a larger TD by giving up more heat as opposed to adding more heat is interesting. The mechanics ...
by dalekh
Tue Jan 19, 2010 1:42 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Stirling Turbine
Replies: 48
Views: 44305

Re: Stirling Turbine

Tom, Interesting. I'm not sure I understand your idea completely. "Relatively warm air is drawn in from the atmosphere and compressed into a narrow tube inside the "displacer" chamber. The compressed air is thus forced to give off heat." Why is this? And what it is the consequenc...
by dalekh
Tue Jan 05, 2010 12:27 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: IT RUNS!!
Replies: 4
Views: 7926

Re: IT RUNS!!

Well, I went ahead and created a YouTube account so I could share my engine with you. The link is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61Gtlm-GXEw


I hope this works. Since recording this video I have added a drain to allow me to empty the water jacket without turning it upside down!

Dale.
by dalekh
Sat Jan 02, 2010 10:26 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: IT RUNS!!
Replies: 4
Views: 7926

Re: IT RUNS!!

Ok, turns out my video is too large. Wow, only 16 sec. long and still too large. So here's a picture instead. Alright, I give. the picture is too big also. I'm not going to mess with resizing it tonight - probably very simple but it's late.