Search found 3320 matches

by Tom Booth
Fri Jan 10, 2020 12:46 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Vuilleumier two displacer engine (heat pump)
Replies: 3
Views: 8245

Vuilleumier two displacer engine (heat pump)

The Vuilleumier device is very similar to a Stirling engine, or Stirling cooler, except that it has two regenerative displacers. Like a Stirling it has a hot end and a cold end but it is different in that it takes in heat or absorbs heat from BOTH the hot end, as well as the cold end. So while it ru...
by Tom Booth
Fri Jan 10, 2020 12:18 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Counterbalancing displacers
Replies: 8
Views: 31109

Counterbalancing displacers

I have a slight issue or problem to work out with the experimental TWO DISPLACER engine I'm experimenting with. I want to try and at least ensure that it will run on a cold sink (ice rather than applied heat) and have every advantage I can give it. To that end, I thought counterbalancing the displac...
by Tom Booth
Fri Jan 10, 2020 12:02 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Tesla's "Ambient Heat Engine" Experiment
Replies: 175
Views: 187940

Re: Tesla's "Ambient Heat Engine" Experiment

Interestingly, after I started working on this around Christmas, the design based on a cookie tin, I came across this video where someone built a Stirling using the same cookie tin. He is supplying a lot of heat from a gas stove to run the thing though. Getting a similar engine to run on ice and amb...
by Tom Booth
Thu Jan 09, 2020 11:31 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: 2 KWh LTD Stirling Engine
Replies: 32
Views: 71750

Re: 2 KWh LTD Stirling Engine

Assuming you can get 20% mechanical power, @ 180rpm, you are going to need to heat at least 10 grams of air up by 100 degree and cool it down again in every cycle. my 2 c I've been wondering about this for a long long time, the "cool it down again" part. Not to be argumentative. Certainly...
by Tom Booth
Thu Jan 09, 2020 11:17 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: 2 KWh LTD Stirling Engine
Replies: 32
Views: 71750

Re: 2 KWh LTD Stirling Engine

Hello, ... I also work on a stirling engine which operates at low temperature. I'm on my sixth prototype and it's starting to work well. Are there people who are still working on the same subject? Rafik Do you have any pictures or videos of any of your prototypes? I am always interested in any kind...
by Tom Booth
Thu Jan 09, 2020 8:34 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Tesla's "Ambient Heat Engine" Experiment
Replies: 175
Views: 187940

Re: Tesla's "Ambient Heat Engine" Experiment

For anyone who might be interested, I have found myself with a few weeks of free time, so I have been working on building, or trying to build the combined Stirling engine / Vuilleumier heat pump, or Tesla "self acting" heat engine described earlier. It is intended as a "Stirling Engin...
by Tom Booth
Sun Jul 08, 2018 7:53 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Tesla's "Ambient Heat Engine" Experiment
Replies: 175
Views: 187940

Re: Tesla's "Ambient Heat Engine" Experiment

I can't imagine turning some old frying pans into a Stirling Engine without some kind of machine shop.
by Tom Booth
Sun Jul 08, 2018 1:36 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Tesla's "Ambient Heat Engine" Experiment
Replies: 175
Views: 187940

Re: Tesla's "Ambient Heat Engine" Experiment

Ian S C wrote:The one way to see if it actually works is to build it, and try it out.
Ian S C
Very True.

I like the engine you posted earlier:

Image

I was wondering what it cost to build. Including time, material and any necessary workshop equipment etc.
by Tom Booth
Thu Jul 05, 2018 6:22 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Tesla's "Ambient Heat Engine" Experiment
Replies: 175
Views: 187940

Re: Tesla's "Ambient Heat Engine" Experiment

The reason these must be regenerative displacers and not just displacers is that the Vuilleumier cooling effect is completeley dependent on regenerating displacers. https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/14/c6/4e/3ae311b6cbee54/US1275507.pdf The patent is extremely interesting. Not only in rega...
by Tom Booth
Thu Jul 05, 2018 2:25 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Tesla's "Ambient Heat Engine" Experiment
Replies: 175
Views: 187940

Re: Tesla's "Ambient Heat Engine" Experiment

Is that a double displacer there? and 180 degrees out of phase with each other? Sorry for the crude drawing. The probable timing I've worked out as a starting point looks like this: http://calypso53.com/stirling/phase.jpg Also, the connections are adjusted so that the dispalcers (regenerators) just...
by Tom Booth
Mon Jan 22, 2018 5:30 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Tesla's "Ambient Heat Engine" Experiment
Replies: 175
Views: 187940

Re: Tesla's "Ambient Heat Engine" Experiment

Ian S C wrote:I only have one thing to say on this type of technology, build it, and demonstrate the proof.
Ian S C
I've gotten as far as some drawings and ordering parts. It may look something like this:

Image
by Tom Booth
Sat Jan 13, 2018 9:29 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Tesla's "Ambient Heat Engine" Experiment
Replies: 175
Views: 187940

Re: Tesla's "Ambient Heat Engine" Experiment

Wellington wrote:
Tom Booth wrote:According to an article by......

hello tom. can you provide a link to the material you reference. thanks.

http://www.unz.org/Pub/Century-1900jun-00175

The relevant sections start around page 200:

"A DEPARTURE PROM KNOWN METHODS—POS-SIBILITY OF A "SELF-ACTING" ENGINE..."
by Tom Booth
Fri Jan 12, 2018 4:38 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Tesla's "Ambient Heat Engine" Experiment
Replies: 175
Views: 187940

Re: Tesla's "Ambient Heat Engine" Experiment

I think the question hinges on what actually goes on in the inner workings of a heat engine. The predominant view had always been and to a great extent still is: for a heat engine to operate heat entering the engine must pass through the engine and out the other side, much like water passing through...
by Tom Booth
Mon Jan 08, 2018 7:20 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Tesla's "Ambient Heat Engine" Experiment
Replies: 175
Views: 187940

Re: Tesla's "Ambient Heat Engine" Experiment

I thought I might mention something I've been working on recently and am also curious to know if anyone else here has ever heard of it or done anything with it. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vuilleumier_cycle This "heat pump" is quite interesting. I think the patent is quite facinating a...
by Tom Booth
Sun Aug 20, 2017 10:00 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Tesla's "Ambient Heat Engine" Experiment
Replies: 175
Views: 187940

Re: Tesla's "Ambient Heat Engine" Experiment

Removing heat from the ice is really not a correct statement. If you study how a heat pump or refrigerating system actually works, it is more like the heat is removed during compression of the gas refrigerant. In those days refrigeration was accomplished by compressing air. The old "Cold Air Ma...