Search found 3384 matches

by Tom Booth
Fri Jun 10, 2016 6:56 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: The use of concrete for models
Replies: 8
Views: 8669

Re: The use of concrete for models

You can make the displacer directly with panels of ceramic fiber. It's stiff and light weight, and easy to work. I see some online sources for ceramic fiber of various types/brands/compositions Ebay, Etsy... some appears to be flexible (comes in rolls). Also, is it permeable ? Could air get through...
by Tom Booth
Wed Jun 08, 2016 8:19 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: The use of concrete for models
Replies: 8
Views: 8669

Re: The use of concrete for models

I've been considering making various engine parts out of a mixture of perlite and waterglass (sodium silicate) often used as a DIY furnace cement. This should, I think, be both lightweight and heatproof. There are several YouTube videos on how to make this cement. I've had several styrofoam displace...
by Tom Booth
Wed Jun 08, 2016 2:28 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: What is the difference between thermal lag and lamina flow engines
Replies: 36
Views: 30711

Re: What is the difference between thermal lag and lamina flow engines

In all engines I've previously seen of this or similar type, the choke is located very close to the heat source.. My impression being that this is necessary in order to force an air stream into the regenerator for heat exchange. If this is the case then the hole in the bottom of the tuna can would o...
by Tom Booth
Thu Apr 16, 2015 7:53 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Stirling Engine Thermodynamics
Replies: 251
Views: 104767

Re: Stirling Engine Thermodynamics

For anyone who might be interested I have posted an Indigogo campaign to raise funds to build a prototype Stirling Engine. I've been theorizing on this subject for years and if possible would like to move beyond just theorizing an making sketches and such and do some real testing. According to Tesla...
by Tom Booth
Sun Apr 05, 2015 4:06 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: This might be useful for low power stirlings
Replies: 22
Views: 18958

Re: This might be useful for low power stirlings

Compression of a small amount of air can generate considerable heat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htObjxzwLBQ
by Tom Booth
Sun Jan 25, 2015 5:12 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: This might be useful for low power stirlings
Replies: 22
Views: 18958

Re: This might be useful for low power stirlings

The power is still going to be measured in Milli Watts, rather than Watts. Ian S C An LTD type engine might not be the best design. An alpha or some other type might due just as well or better, but I always thought seeing was believing. That large LTD in the video Aviator168 posted is driving a 150...
by Tom Booth
Fri Jan 23, 2015 11:51 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: My observation on home built strings.
Replies: 22
Views: 15469

Re: My observation on home built strings.

Ah, and here I thought it was an original idea.
by Tom Booth
Fri Jan 23, 2015 9:47 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: This might be useful for low power stirlings
Replies: 22
Views: 18958

Re: This might be useful for low power stirlings

A perpetual machine? Presumably no matter how feeble the engine, it could operate some kind of little air compressor. So some warming and cooling effect above and below ambient should be possible, if for example the engine were started initially by setting it atop a block of ice. Something would ha...
by Tom Booth
Fri Jan 23, 2015 7:55 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: This might be useful for low power stirlings
Replies: 22
Views: 18958

Re: This might be useful for low power stirlings

To Illustrate: LTD_with_air_cycle.gif A simple LTD Stirling with a little air-pump for an air-cycle heating and refrigeration unit. That is of course simplified. The hot and cold heat exchangers would consist of coils of tubing looping around the top and the bottom of the engine rather than straight...
by Tom Booth
Fri Jan 23, 2015 7:31 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: This might be useful for low power stirlings
Replies: 22
Views: 18958

Re: This might be useful for low power stirlings

That's a low temperature deferential engine. What kind of power requirement are you talking about? No specific power requirement particularly. Just make the LTD big enough and the air pump small enough that the Stirling Engine can run the air-pump or air compressor. The compressor or air pump doesn...
by Tom Booth
Fri Jan 23, 2015 7:21 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: My observation on home built strings.
Replies: 22
Views: 15469

Re: My observation on home built strings.

You have 3 displacers here? No, just one displacer, but it has holes in it. Like this: displacer.gif The regenerator consists of tubes running from top to bottom. You might also want to switch cold and hot ends. My reasoning for having the heat on top is that heat rises. Suggestion. If you get rid ...
by Tom Booth
Fri Jan 23, 2015 6:26 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: This might be useful for low power stirlings
Replies: 22
Views: 18958

Re: This might be useful for low power stirlings

Compressing air generates considerable heat. Releasing that compressed air results in cooling.

What I have in mind is to have an LTD type Stirling (Or any Stirling Engine for that matter) power an air-cycle heat pump.
by Tom Booth
Fri Jan 23, 2015 6:18 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: This might be useful for low power stirlings
Replies: 22
Views: 18958

Re: This might be useful for low power stirlings

What I had in mind was something like this engine:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARD3ctp80ac

but I wanted to somehow attach a very small compressor or air pump. Something very simple, similar to a bicycle pump. This type of gearing looks like a very smooth way to accomplish that.